Greater London · London and the South East
Hornchurch Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Hornchurch and across Greater London, with plain-English findings.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Hornchurch
If you are buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. We are often asked to look into old water stains in the roof space and blocked or leaking gutters, on chimney stacks, natural slate and lead flashings and valleys.
In London, plenty of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Every alteration brings new junctions, flashings and flat-roof areas to look at. For a purchase in Hornchurch, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a close look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Hornchurch (RM12, RM11, RM14, RM1)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In Hornchurch, as in much of London, lots of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, tell us when you book.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. We check for blockages, leaking joints and sagging runs.
Useful tips for Hornchurch property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Buying a home or a new roof in Hornchurch
Outer London has plenty of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with slate roofs, but also a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Hornchurch, along with any off-street space. Landlords with a home close to Emerson Park station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Hare Hall lies about 1.8 miles north, so building around Hornchurch goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Hornchurch is about 6 miles south-west of Brentwood, in Greater London. Surveys in Hornchurch work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Our Greater London coverage includes Hornchurch and the places around it. We also survey roofs in London.
Every address in RM12, RM11, RM14 and RM1 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You will find streets such as High Street, The Avenue and Stanley Road. Hornchurch is on the A125, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover the places around Hornchurch: Upminster Bridge (1 mile east), Heath Park (1 mile north-west), Emerson Park (1 mile north-east), Hacton (2 miles south) and Ardleigh Green (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like London (14 miles west), St Pancras (14 miles west), Shoreditch (13 miles west), Walthamstow (10 miles west), Hoxton (13 miles west) and Whitechapel (13 miles west).
Local landmarks in Hornchurch
Around Hornchurch, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Abbs Cross Academy and Arts College, J.J. Moon's pub and St. Andrew's Park, among other places. The nearest railway station is Emerson Park station, roughly 0.7 miles north. Nearby you will also find Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia (1.9 miles east) and The Brewery (1.8 miles north-west). Open spaces near Hornchurch include Hornchurch Cutting.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Which survey package you book
- The roof’s overall size
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Booking your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Hornchurch: your questions answered
Is parking a problem for a survey in Hornchurch?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot, so mention what’s available when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hornchurch?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
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.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Also near Hornchurch
What else we do in Hornchurch
Honest limits
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys