Essex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Horseman Side, Essex
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Horseman Side from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Horseman Side
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. 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. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles, and people most often book us about slipped or missing slates and tiles and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs.
Older buildings in small places like Horseman Side may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Horseman Side (CM14)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then 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. Around Horseman Side, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Read more
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Getting in touch
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- What made you get in touch
- The property’s address and postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s, and we cannot promise any result.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Questions from Horseman Side
Do you cover Horseman Side?
Yes, Horseman Side is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. Just call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like Horseman Side?
Yes. Horseman Side is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photographs.
Towns and villages near Horseman Side
What else we do in Horseman Side
Why get it checked now?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but too late to use them in the purchase. Older cottages and farmhouses around Horseman Side can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why us?
- A report with photographs
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Buying a home or a new roof in Horseman Side
Hill Hall, about 4.2 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Horseman Side. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Landlords with a home close to Brentwood station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. The streets around a church like Church of St Paul are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Horseman Side is about 3 miles north-west of Brentwood, in Essex. In Horseman Side, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
We work across the CM14 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Tan House Lane and Horseman Side. If you are just outside Horseman Side, we cover Waterhales (1 mile south-west), Navestock Heath (1 mile north-west), Navestock Side (1 mile north-east), Coxtie Green (1 mile east) and Bentley (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (12 miles north-east), Basildon (11 miles south-east), Harlow (10 miles north-west), Brentwood (3 miles south-east), Billericay (8 miles east) and Loughton (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in Horseman Side
Typical jobs here are in homes near Weald Country Park and King William IV Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Horseman Side is Brentwood station, roughly 3.5 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Harold Wood Hospital (3.7 miles south). For a walk, there’s Bedfords Park.