East Sussex · London and the South East
Newhaven Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Newhaven and the rest of East Sussex. We survey on any day of the week.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Newhaven
We survey roofs for buyers in Newhaven and across London and the South East. Whether it’s a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, the roof gets the same careful look. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. If you’ve noticed bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and flashings that have lifted or split, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Lots of homes in a town like Newhaven have been extended over the years, often with flat roofs. Where an extension roof meets the main house is a classic place for water to get in. For a home you are buying in Newhaven, or a roof just finished there, those joints get a careful look.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Location
- Newhaven (BN9)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Buying a home or a new roof in Newhaven
Newhaven is within about 1 mile of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Monk's House, about 3.4 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Newhaven. If you are buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael and All Angels, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Newhaven is about 8 miles east of Brighton, in East Sussex. Whether the building in Newhaven is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Across East Sussex, we cover Newhaven. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in BN9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets like High Street, Station Road and Dacre Road, and we cover them all. Newhaven is on the A26 and A259, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover the places around Newhaven: Denton (1 mile north-east), South Heighton (1 mile north), Piddinghoe (1 mile north-west), Tide Mills (1 mile south-east) and Norton (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (10 miles east), Seaford (3 miles south-east), Lewes (6 miles north), Hailsham (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (12 miles north) and Telscombe (3 miles west). Newhaven is among the bigger towns we cover in East Sussex.
Around Newhaven
Typical jobs here are in homes near Harbour Primary and Nursery School, The Ship Hotel and Castle Hill, among other places. Newhaven has its own railway station: Newhaven Town station. Other landmarks nearby include Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (1.2 miles south-east) and Newhaven Museum (0.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Itford Hill.
Common questions in Newhaven
Is Newhaven in the area you cover?
Yes, Newhaven is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Newhaven?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable as you book.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Why it is worth a survey now in Newhaven
Plenty of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. In a family home in Newhaven, a small roof fault lets water into places you can’t see, such as the loft insulation, the top of a wall or the roof timbers. By the time it shows inside, the job has grown.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Photographs and a written report every time
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
DIY checks: what’s safe
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
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. Don’t go up yourself.
Nearby places to Newhaven
Other services in Newhaven
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
When to book a survey in Newhaven
Gutter problems frequently look minor from the street. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
If you let a flat or house near Newhaven Town station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Before you book anyone
- Their insurance cover
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Will the report include photos?
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Parking in a town like Newhaven is normally simple, but let us know if there’s a driveway or any restrictions. The inspection covers whatever is safely visible from outside, from windows and from the roof space, and from the roof itself where it is safe.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Related advice
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The address and postcode of the property
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.