Greater London · London and the South East
Kenley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Kenley and across Greater London.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof survey in Kenley
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s often not the individual flat owner. We check as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. Typical surveys look at flashings that have lifted or split and a ridge or slope that dips, across gutters and downpipes, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, and a home in Kenley could be any of them. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, the details that cause trouble depend on the age of the building. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Kenley (CR8, CR2)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. A survey fills that gap before you commit, with photos of anything that needs attention. In Kenley, as across London, an overflowing gutter soaks the wall below, which can lead to damp inside. A small blockage left for a few winters becomes a damp problem.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Why us?
- Every finding written up with photos
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
What we’re asked to look at in Kenley
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Kenley, along with any off-street space.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What the survey won’t cover
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their insurance cover
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. A typical survey 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. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so in Kenley we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
What affects the price in Kenley
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Which survey package you book
- Roof area
For a price for your roof in Kenley, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What to let us know when you get in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before you book.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. From inside the loft space, we report what we can see of it.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Kenley
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Kenley?
Usually it’s manageable with a little notice. Let us know what parking is available nearby, and the visit is planned around it.
Are there drone restrictions around Kenley?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photos.
How do I book a survey in Kenley?
It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Tell us the address and a little about the roof. We survey seven days a week.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot 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 applicable.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Kenley
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
The streets around a church such as Church of All Saints are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. If you own a rental within reach of Kenley station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Kenley is about 1 mile south-east of Purley, in Greater London. Anywhere in Kenley, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property. Kenley is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work. There’s also a page for London.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CR8 and CR2. That includes homes and businesses on Oaks Road, Park Road and Roke Road and the roads around them. Kenley is on the A22, so it’s easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Kenley: Riddlesdown (1 mile north), Sanderstead (1 mile north-east), Whyteleafe (1 mile south-east), Hamsey Green (1 mile east) and South Croydon (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover London (12 miles north), City of Westminster (13 miles north), Marylebone (14 miles north), Kensington (13 miles north), St Pancras (14 miles north) and Shoreditch (14 miles north).
Near you in Kenley
We work in homes and buildings around Dollypers Hill and Riddlesdown Collegiate and the streets around them. Kenley has its own railway station: Kenley station. A little further out are St George's Walk (3.4 miles north) and Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (2.4 miles north). For a walk, there is Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.