Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Lower Arncott
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Lower Arncott, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Lower Arncott
With Boarstall Tower about 2.5 miles south, Lower Arncott sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
If you own a rental within reach of Bicester Village station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Lower Arncott is about 3 miles south-east of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Roofs in Lower Arncott get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Oxfordshire. Lower Arncott is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
We work across OX25 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Ploughley Road and Willowbrook or a nearby road, we can help. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Upper Arncott (1 mile south), Ambrosden (1 mile north), Merton (2 miles west), Murcott (2 miles south-west) and Fencott (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (9 miles south-west), Bicester (3 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles south-west), Thame (10 miles south-east), Kidlington (8 miles west) and Chinnor (14 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Lower Arncott
In Lower Arncott, that means homes and buildings near The Plough pub. The nearest railway station is Bicester Village station, about 2.8 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (3.2 miles north-west) and Bicester Village (2.9 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Graven Hill and Woodsides Meadow.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Lower Arncott
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you’re tied in. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it’s safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We are often asked to look into sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and quick fixes on flashings and valleys, on gutters and downpipes, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and the roof space.
Being in a small place like Lower Arncott makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Lower Arncott (OX25)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Lower Arncott
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps when budgeting.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Lower Arncott and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Common questions in Lower Arncott
Do you cover smaller places like Lower Arncott?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Lower Arncott is listed?
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.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East often have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Rotten pegs let tiles slide, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Other services in Lower Arncott
Common roof problems in Lower Arncott
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from the ground.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- When you’ll get the report
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Are they insured for the work?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It typically takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around Lower Arncott, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re 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.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
How to prepare
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Roof area
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
All our prices include VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.