Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Merton, Oxfordshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Merton, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it’s in.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Merton
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. We’re frequently asked to look into old water stains in the roof space and blocked or leaking gutters, across clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and chimney stacks.
Older buildings in small places like Merton 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. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Location
- Merton (OX25)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Rural addresses near Merton can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Merton: local notes
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
For landlords with property near Bicester Village station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. With Boarstall Tower about 3.7 miles south-east, the area around Merton has a long history. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Merton is about 3 miles south of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Merton and the rest of Oxfordshire. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Merton. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in OX25 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Other places close to Merton include Fencott (1 mile south), Murcott (1 mile south-east), Charlton-on-Otmoor (1 mile south-west), Wendlebury (2 miles north-west) and Lower Arncott (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (8 miles south), Bicester (3 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (13 miles south), Witney (15 miles west), Thame (11 miles south-east) and Kidlington (6 miles south-west).
Near you in Merton
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Old Plough pub. For rail, the closest station is Bicester Village station, about 2.7 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Bicester Community Hospital (2.9 miles north) and Bicester Avenue (2.3 miles north). For a walk, there’s Graven Hill and Woodsides Meadow.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Merton
Do you cover Merton?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Merton as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you cover smaller places like Merton?
Yes. Merton is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
When to book a survey in Merton
Chimneys take the worst of the weather and they’re frequently the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which matters if work is needed.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Swithin, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Questions to ask before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s report
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Merton
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Useful tips for Merton property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, particularly where we have found patch repairs.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Towns and villages near Merton
More services for Merton
For landlords and managing agents
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant.