Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Horspath
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Horspath, with photos and a clear written report.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof survey in Horspath: what you get
Buyers in Horspath and right across London and the South East use our pre-purchase roof survey. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what is not and what to deal with first. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. Typical surveys look at cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and slipped or missing slates and tiles, across clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and the roof space.
In a village or hamlet like Horspath, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
After the visit, you get a report with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Horspath (OX33)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Horspath
Do you carry out roof surveys in Horspath?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Horspath is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Horspath?
It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on any day of the week.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Horspath
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Historic houses such as Garsington Manor, about 1.9 miles south, show how far back building around Horspath goes. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Giles, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Horspath is about 3 miles east of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We cover Horspath and the rest of Oxfordshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire.
We cover every part of the OX33 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. You’ll find streets such as Church Road, Manor Drive and Butts Road, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Horspath, we cover Littleworth (1 mile north-east), Shotover Hill (1 mile north-west), Blenheim (1 mile south-east), Garsington (1 mile south) and Wheatley (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (3 miles west), Didcot (10 miles south), Bicester (11 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles south-west), Witney (14 miles west) and Thame (9 miles east).
Around Horspath
In Horspath, that means homes and buildings near Wheatley Park School, Shotover Country Park and Queen's Head pub and the streets around them. Horspath’s nearest station is Oxford station, roughly 4.4 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Templars Square (2 miles west) and Slade Hospital (1.3 miles west). Open spaces near Horspath include Shotover and CS Lewis Nature Reserve.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Checking the roof from ground level
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
What we’re asked to look at in Horspath
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.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
For landlords with property near Oxford station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Horspath, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
What affects the price in Horspath
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How big the roof is
- Height and safe access
- Which survey package you book
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Also near Horspath
Also in Horspath
What we cannot 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:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks