Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Horley, Surrey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Horley, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Horley: what you get
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. If you’re worried about patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Lots of homes in a town like Horley have been extended over the years, often with flat roofs. Where an extension roof meets the main house is a classic place for water to get in. For a home you’re buying in Horley, or a roof just finished there, those joints get a careful look.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Place
- Horley (RH6)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Horley
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls are typical of Surrey’s older houses. A few of Surrey’s oldest buildings have heavy Horsham stone slab roofs. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
The streets around a church like St Wilfrid's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Horley is about 5 miles north of Crawley, in Surrey. Roofs in Horley get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Surrey. Horley is one of the towns and villages in Surrey we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys.
Every address in RH6 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Station Road, High Street and Church Road or a nearby road, we can help. Being close to the A23 and B2036, Horley is easy for us to reach for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Hookwood (1 mile south-west), Fernhill (2 miles south-east), Burstow (2 miles south-east), Smallfield (2 miles east) and Shipley Bridge (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Epsom (12 miles north), Redhill (4 miles north), Ewell (13 miles north), Reigate (4 miles north), Caterham (8 miles north-east) and Dorking (8 miles north-west). Being one of Surrey’s larger places, Horley has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Landmarks near Horley
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bull pub and Oakwood School. The closest station to Horley is Horley station, about 0.8 miles south-east. A little further out are Reigate Castle (4.5 miles north) and East Surrey Hospital (2.8 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Reigate Heath.
FAQs for Horley
Is drone flying allowed in Horley?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Horley is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Gatwick Airport. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
Do you cover Horley?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Horley as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we can’t promise any saving.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
How long does the survey visit take?
It normally takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
What happens on the day
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. A survey in Horley needs access inside and out, including the loft hatch and any rooms with damp. If there’s a side gate or a rear garden, let us know how to reach it. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, 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
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
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What we’re asked to look at in Horley
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
For landlords with property near Horley station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Before booking anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What they won’t be able to tell you
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Horley
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- House, block, shop or office
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The roof’s overall size
- The shape of the roof and its details
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What we need to know
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
What we can’t see
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Natural slate
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Book once your offer is accepted
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Nearby places to Horley
Also in Horley
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We’ll say if the flue needs a specialist.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof.