West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Kent Street, West Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Kent Street, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Kent Street
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. We survey the roof space, chimney stacks and lead flashings and valleys, and the problems we are asked to look at most are damp timbers or stains in the loft and loose pots and cracked flaunching.
For a small place like Kent Street, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Location
- Kent Street (RH13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are often the reason.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Kent Street: local notes
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Whatever the street in Kent Street, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early. Whether the property is in Kent Street itself or nearby, the inspection covers whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
Kent Street is about 5 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Kent Street and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Across West Sussex, we cover Kent Street. You can also see our page for Crawley.
All of RH13 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you’re just outside Kent Street, we cover Wineham (1 mile south-east), Cowfold (1 mile north-west), Twineham Green (2 miles east), Shermanbury (2 miles south-west) and Twineham (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (7 miles north-west), Worthing (12 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (7 miles east), Burgess Hill (5 miles east) and East Grinstead (15 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Kent Street
Nearby you’ll also find The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles east). For a walk, there is Knepp Wildland.
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.
What happens on the day
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Kent Street, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft 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 is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Kent Street questions
How do I find out if my home in Kent Street is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Kent Street?
Yes, Kent Street is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it is safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Kent Street
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
What happens if roof problems are left?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. For an older or listed building in a place like Kent Street, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why book us in Kent Street
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.