East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Holywell, East Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Holywell, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked, as far as we can see them safely.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you’re buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Holywell
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where it applies, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We’re often asked to look into patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and damp timbers or stains in the loft, on chimney stacks, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles.
Around Holywell, you’ll mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. Whether you’re buying or have just had the roof replaced, that hidden layer is worth knowing about. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, like when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Holywell (BN20, BN21)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Holywell
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we look at.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- A ridge or slope that dips
The streets around a church such as St John the Evangelist are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
Landlords, agents and block managers in Holywell
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Holywell: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Holywell is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Holywell?
Yes. Holywell is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. We survey on any day of the week.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where we can, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we can’t get in, the report says so.
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- House, block, shop or office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The size of the roof
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both inc. VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking.
Booking your survey
We’ll typically ask about:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The kind of building and roof involved
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Holywell
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Holywell, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
If you let a flat or house near Eastbourne station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Holywell is about 2 miles south of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Bookings from Holywell are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Holywell is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in BN20 and BN21 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Mount Road, Cliff Road and Denton Road, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Meads (1 mile north-west), Old Town (1 mile north), Upperton (1 mile north), Eastbourne (2 miles north) and Ratton Village (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Hastings (15 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (14 miles north-west), Hailsham (8 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Holywell
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Gildredge House, Roedean Moira House and Gildrege Park. For rail, the closest station is Eastbourne station, about 1.2 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.3 miles north) and Rnli Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum (0.8 miles north-east). Not far away are Combe Hill.
How the survey works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit typically takes about one to two hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around Holywell, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
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Also near Holywell
Also in Holywell
What this survey can’t tell you
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether timbers meet design loads
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Holywell
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers