Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in North Holmwood
A careful look at the roof at your property in North Holmwood, with photos and a written report.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof survey in North Holmwood: what you get
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. We can’t say how a seller will respond, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We survey chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and the roof space, and people most often book us about slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and worn or lifted lead flashings.
Around North Holmwood, you will mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. Older roofs may still have their original slates or clay tiles, with fixings and underlay that have done a long stint. Whether you’re buying or have just had the roof replaced, that hidden layer is worth knowing about. Older roofs often have bitumen felt under the coverings, as breathable membranes only arrived in the late 1990s.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- North Holmwood (RH5, RH4)
- Region
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys around North Holmwood
Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Landlords with a home close to Dorking West station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Polesden Lacey, about 3.8 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around North Holmwood. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
North Holmwood is about 1 mile south of Dorking, in Surrey. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in North Holmwood. Across Surrey, we cover North Holmwood and the places around it. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Here we cover the RH5 and RH4 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Howard Road, Horsham Road and Inholms Lane. Close by, we survey roofs in Blackbrook (1 mile south-east), Mid Holmwood (1 mile south-west), Dorking (1 mile north), Pixham (2 miles north) and Westcott (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (11 miles west), Woking (13 miles north-west), Epsom (9 miles north), Horley (7 miles east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (10 miles north).
Landmarks near North Holmwood
In North Holmwood, that means homes and buildings near Inholms Clay Pit, The Priory CofE Voluntary Aided School and Royal Oak pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Dorking West station, roughly 1.8 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Mesolithic Museum (3.7 miles west) and Headley Court (5.9 miles north). For a walk, there is Reigate Heath and Box Hill.
Places near North Holmwood
Also in North Holmwood
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in North Holmwood
How do I find out if my home in North Holmwood is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is North Holmwood within the area you cover?
Yes, North Holmwood is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.
What affects the price in North Holmwood
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- The size of the roof
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Height and safe access
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- When you need the report by
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- The address and postcode of the property
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Landlords, agents and block managers in North Holmwood
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it normally takes an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a smaller place like North Holmwood, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Booking a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in North Holmwood, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
What we’re asked to look at in North Holmwood
Rear extensions, dormers and garages often have flat roofs. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St John the Evangelist, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance