Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in New Forest, Hampshire
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in New Forest and across Hampshire, with plain-English findings.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in New Forest
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like New Forest are listed or sit 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. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Where
- New Forest (SP6)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Cost
- 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
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near New Forest
Also in New Forest
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older rural homes like those around New Forest can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
How to book
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. You will know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. For older village homes like those around New Forest, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we can help you choose.
What you get with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Photographs and a written report every time
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Honest limits
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in New Forest
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
FAQs for New Forest
Do you cover New Forest?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and New Forest is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like New Forest?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain doesn’t normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it as you book and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in New Forest
Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
In and around New Forest, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
New Forest is in Hampshire. We survey roofs in New Forest and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Hampshire, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Southampton page.
Every address in SP6 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Sillens Lane and Townsend Lane and the roads around them. We also cover the places around New Forest: Martin (1 mile north-east), Rockbourne (3 miles east) and Damerham (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Ringwood (11 miles south-east), Fordingbridge (6 miles south-east), St Leonards (11 miles south), Alderholt (6 miles south-east), Poulner (11 miles south-east) and Ashley Heath (10 miles south).
Landmarks near New Forest
Other landmarks nearby include Cranborne Castle Hill (4.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Western Downs.
What we’re asked to look at in New Forest
Rear extensions, dormers and garages often have flat roofs. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
What to check before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA