East Sussex · London and the South East
North Chailey Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in North Chailey. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Landlords, agents and block managers in North Chailey
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in North Chailey
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We check as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. If you’ve noticed bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like North Chailey are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly.
- Place
- North Chailey (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
Towns and villages near North Chailey
What else we do in North Chailey
Local roofs and buyers in North Chailey
In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
The streets around a church like Church of Our Lady are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. If you let a flat or house near Plumpton station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
North Chailey is about 4 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in North Chailey and the rest of East Sussex. North Chailey is one of the places in East Sussex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. There is also a page for Brighton.
Here we cover the BN8 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Station Road, Downs View and Downs View Close. With the A275 close by, North Chailey is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to North Chailey include Chailey (1 mile south), Newick (1 mile east), South Street (2 miles south), Founthill (2 miles east) and Scaynes Hill (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Seaford (15 miles south), Lewes (7 miles south), Hailsham (14 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (13 miles south).
Near you in North Chailey
Around North Chailey, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School and Chailey School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Plumpton station, about 3.6 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Heaven Farm Museum (3.4 miles north) and Waterbury Castle (4.7 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a small place like North Chailey, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
FAQs for North Chailey
Is my home in North Chailey listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Do you cover North Chailey?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and North Chailey is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What affects the price in North Chailey
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How big the roof is
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
What we need to know
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Useful tips for North Chailey property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
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.