Greater London · London and the South East
New Cross Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across New Cross, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in New Cross
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a close look at it before you’re committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there is safe access. You get a written report with photos. We survey the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and the problems we are asked to look at most are chimney mortar that has eroded and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof.
In London, a good many houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, such as flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. For a purchase in New Cross, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a close look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- New Cross (SE8, SE14, SE4)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in New Cross
Queen's House, about 1.5 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around New Cross. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you own a rental within reach of New Cross station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. As a London address, New Cross can be tricky for parking: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when you book.
New Cross is about 3 miles south-east of London, in Greater London. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in New Cross for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
All of SE8, SE14 and SE4 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Ivy Road, Mona Road and Avon Road, and we cover them all. Being close to the A2209 and A2210, New Cross is easy for us to reach. Other places close to New Cross include St Johns (1 mile east), Telegraph Hill (1 mile south-west), Deptford (1 mile north-east), Nunhead (1 mile south-west) and Lewisham (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include London (3 miles north-west), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (5 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (4 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in New Cross
Typical jobs here are in homes near Wickham Arms, Fordham Park and Addey and Stanhope School. Other local landmarks include St. Paul's (0.7 miles north-east) and Laban Centre (0.9 miles north-east). New Cross has its own railway station: New Cross station. Nearby you will also find Fan Museum (1.2 miles north-east) and Greenwich Castle (1.5 miles east). Open spaces near New Cross include St. James's Park Lake and Tower Hill.
More services for New Cross
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Useful tips for New Cross property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in New Cross?
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
The streets around a church such as St James's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
What to check before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
How the survey works
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes an hour or two for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a London conversion, the way into the loft space is frequently from a communal landing or the top flat. Where that is the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked, as far as we can see them safely.
FAQs for New Cross
How do I find out if my home in New Cross is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in New Cross?
It depends on the street. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well, and a driveway is even better.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
What insurance do you have?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It usually takes an hour or two at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.