Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Launton, Oxfordshire
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Launton.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Old water stains in the roof space
Pre-purchase roof survey in Launton: what you get
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. Common reasons to book are slipped or missing slates and tiles and flashings that have lifted or split, across the roof space, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Older buildings in small places like Launton 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, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Launton (OX26, OX25)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof.
Places near Launton
Also in Launton
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Natural slate
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Launton
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Launton?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Launton?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Launton is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
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 as you book.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a hamlet or village like Launton, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Book a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Advice
Launton homes and their roofs
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. Landlords with a home close to Bicester North station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Launton is about 2 miles east of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Whether the building in Launton is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Launton is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
Here we cover the OX26 and OX25 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Station Road, Skinner Road and Ancil Avenue and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Ambrosden (2 miles south), Lower Arncott (3 miles south), Chesterton (3 miles west), Upper Arncott (3 miles south) and Wendlebury (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (11 miles south-west), Banbury (15 miles north-west), Thame (12 miles south-east), Kidlington (9 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (10 miles south) and St John Street area (12 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Launton
Around Launton, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Cooper School and The Bull Inn and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Bicester North station, roughly 1.4 miles west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Bicester Village (1.7 miles west) and Bicester Community Hospital (1.7 miles west). For a walk, there is Graven Hill and Upper Ray Meadows.
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Launton
We confirm the exact price before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Which survey package you book
- House, block, shop or office
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
What to tell us when you get in touch
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.