East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Langney, East Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Langney, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Langney
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours is not a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. We survey natural slate, gutters and downpipes and the roof space, and people most often book us about signs of past leaks inside the loft and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs.
Around Langney, 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. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs frequently have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Langney (BN23)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Langney homes and their roofs
Langney is within about 2 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, so exposed details get a proper look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
If you own a rental within reach of Pevensey & Westham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. Take an older house close to St. Richard: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Langney is about 2 miles north-east of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Langney gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, large and small. There is also a page for Brighton.
Every address in BN23 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Priory Road, Priory Lane and Pembury Road. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Westham (1 mile north), Pevensey (2 miles north-east), Jenkins' Green (2 miles north), Pevensey Bay (2 miles north-east) and Normans' Bay (4 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Hastings (12 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (7 miles north-east), Seaford (9 miles west), Lewes (14 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles north-west) and St Leonards (11 miles east).
Near you in Langney
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Lodge pub, Princes Park and Bishop Bell School, among other places. The nearest railway station is Pevensey & Westham station, roughly 1.1 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.3 miles south-west) and Pevensey Castle (1.5 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Combe Hill.
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a smaller place like Langney, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know 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.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Keep pets in another room
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Booking a survey
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
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Leave it or get it looked at?
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. Its job is to check the property’s value for the mortgage, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. Our survey is done for you. Blocked gutters on homes around Langney overflow and soak walls, especially where trees overhang. It’s easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
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 want to find out.
Why book with us
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Photos and a written report every time
- Visits on any day of the week
Nearby places to Langney
What else we do in Langney
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, especially where we have found patch repairs.
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. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Gutters and parapets
Hidden gutters behind parapets send water indoors when they block. We check their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
Langney questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Langney?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you come out to Langney?
Yes, Langney is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.