West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Lagness
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Lagness and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Lagness
Lagness lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, so exposed details get a careful look whether you are buying or signing off new work. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you own a rental within reach of Bognor Regis station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. If you live in an older home near Church of St Giles, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Lagness is about 2 miles west of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Surveys in Lagness work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
All of PO20 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover Runcton (1 mile north-west), Merston (1 mile north), North Mundham (2 miles north-west), Colworth (2 miles north-east) and Hunston (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Worthing (14 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north-west), Selsey (5 miles south-west), Littlehampton (9 miles east), Emsworth (10 miles west) and Rustington (10 miles east).
Landmarks near Lagness
In Lagness, that means homes and buildings near The Regis School and Avisford and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Bognor Regis station, about 2.5 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Tote Copse Castle (2.9 miles north-east) and Bognor Regis Museum (2.5 miles south-east).
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lagness
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both. We’re often asked to look into gutters choked with leaves and moss and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, across chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Older buildings in small places like Lagness may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Where
- Lagness (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older roofs in small places like Lagness can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Before the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Lagness
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Lagness questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Lagness?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Lagness?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it typically shows.
Do you work in Lagness?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Lagness.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when you book.
What’s the best way to book?
It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we’ll point you to the right survey. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
What a survey costs
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How big the roof is
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
We’ll typically ask about:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- What kind of property and roof it is
- What’s prompted the survey
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
What we’re asked to look at in Lagness
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. It’s a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
Common reasons to book include:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Goodwood House, about 4.9 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Lagness. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs