Southampton · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Itchen
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Itchen. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Itchen
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where it applies, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey clay and concrete tiles, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys, and the problems we are asked to look at most are old water stains in the roof space and gutters choked with leaves and moss.
Around Itchen, 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 are buying or have just had the roof replaced, that hidden layer is worth knowing about. Older roofs often have bitumen felt under the coverings, as breathable membranes only arrived in the late 1990s.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Itchen (SO19, SO14)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Itchen
Are there drone restrictions around Itchen?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Itchen is about 1 mile from the edge of the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Is the coastal weather around Itchen hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Is Itchen in your area?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Itchen.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to.
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a smaller place like Itchen, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- 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.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Book a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Itchen, phone 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Itchen?
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from ground level.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
For an older house near a landmark like Jesus Chapel - St Mary Extra, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
What to check before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
More services for Itchen
Landlords, agents and block managers in Itchen
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer.
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Itchen
Itchen is within about 2 miles of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale. About 1.5 miles west lies Medieval Merchant's House, a reminder of how long the area around Itchen has been built on. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you own a rental within reach of Woolston station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Itchen is about 2 miles south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. Bookings from Itchen are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. We cover towns and villages across Southampton.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: SO19 and SO14. That includes homes and businesses on Sea Road, Oak Road and West Road and the roads around them. Being close to the A3025, Itchen is simple for us to get to. We also cover the places around Itchen: Peartree Green (1 mile north-west), Northam (1 mile north-west), Sholing (1 mile east), Bitterne (1 mile north-east) and St Mary's (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Shirley (3 miles north-west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (4 miles north-west), Coxford (4 miles north-west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Southampton, Itchen has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Near you in Itchen
In Itchen, that means homes and buildings near Houndwell Park, Woolston School and Oasis Academy Sholing. Itchen has its own railway station: Woolston station. Other landmarks nearby include Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.9 miles north) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.6 miles west). The countryside around Itchen includes Netley Common.
Useful tips for Itchen property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Share the report with your solicitor
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- How big the roof is
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and the package you choose.
What we need to know
We will typically ask about:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The address and postcode of the property
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- When you need the report by
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.