Essex · London and the South East
Latton Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A careful look at the roof at your property in Latton, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Pre-purchase roof survey in Latton
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We are often asked to look into flashings that have lifted or split and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, across gutters and downpipes, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles.
In a village or hamlet like Latton, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Location
- Latton (CM17, CM18, CM20)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- A structural engineer’s report
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
Towns and villages near Latton
Also in Latton
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
FAQs for Latton
Are flat-roofed garages and porches in Latton worth including?
Often, yes, so mention it when booking. Flat-roofed garages and porches are common in new towns like Harlow, and older felt coverings may be near the end of their life.
Is my home in Latton listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes, you can. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Latton?
Chimneys take the worst of the weather. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
If you let a flat or house near Harlow Town station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What insurance they carry
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How long the report takes to arrive
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Latton
Latton is part of Harlow, one of the post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Whether you’re buying or replacing a roof, low pitches and flat-roofed additions deserve a careful look. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so the council is the place to ask.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Andrew, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Latton is about 1 mile south-east of Harlow, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Latton, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Essex. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CM17, CM18 and CM20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include London Road, Minton Lane and Tumbler Road, all of which we cover. Main roads around Latton include the A414. Close by, we survey roofs in Harlow (1 mile north-west), Mark Hall South (1 mile north-west), Newhall (1 mile north-east), Bush Fair (1 mile south-west) and Netteswell (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Brentwood (12 miles south-east), Loughton (8 miles south), Waltham Abbey (7 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (5 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (10 miles north).
Landmarks near Latton
We work in homes and buildings around Passmores Academy, Harlow Marsh and Purple Emperor pub. The nearest railway station is Harlow Town station, about 1.7 miles north-west. Nearby you’ll also find Princess Alexandra Hospital (1.7 miles west) and Mark Hall Cycle Museum (0.9 miles north). For a walk, there’s Hunsdon Mead.
Why get it checked now?
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. Around Latton, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Latton
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent view of the roof
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
How the survey works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Around Latton, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Read more
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.