West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lindfield, West Sussex
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Lindfield. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Useful tips for Lindfield property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Lindfield
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. We survey clay and concrete tiles, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes, and people most often book us about signs of past leaks inside the loft and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone.
In a smaller place like Lindfield, some houses face open ground, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather normally shows first. Whether you are buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a careful look. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Lindfield (RH16)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on any day of the week, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. In an older home around Lindfield, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, and that is a much bigger job than the original defect.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
What you get with us
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Lindfield questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Lindfield?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover Lindfield?
Yes, Lindfield is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
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. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
Nearby places to Lindfield
What else we do in Lindfield
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Lindfield
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
What happens on the day
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. A visit to Lindfield is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed in advance. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Read more
Local roofs and buyers in Lindfield
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. With Ockenden Manor about 2.7 miles west, Lindfield sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For an older house near a landmark such as All Saints Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Lindfield is about 1 mile north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. Lindfield gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Lindfield is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Here we cover the RH16 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Alma Road, Lewes Road and Dukes Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside Lindfield, we cover Walstead (1 mile south-east), Ardingly (2 miles north), Horsted Keynes (3 miles north-east), Highbrook (3 miles north) and Little London (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (8 miles north-west), Horsham (11 miles west), Burgess Hill (4 miles south-west), East Grinstead (8 miles north), Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south-west) and Broadfield (8 miles north-west).
Near you in Lindfield
Around Lindfield, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Witch Inn, Oathall Community College and Tavistock and Summerhill School, among other places. The closest station to Lindfield is Haywards Heath station, roughly 1.1 miles south-west. Nearby you will also find Waterbury Castle (2.7 miles north-east) and Parish Museum (under half a mile north-east). The countryside around Lindfield includes Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Common roof problems in Lindfield
Rear extensions, dormers and garages often have flat roofs. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Old water stains in the loft space
If you let a flat or house near Haywards Heath station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
What to check before booking
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.