Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in North Kensington, Greater London
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in North Kensington from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in North Kensington
Buyers in North Kensington and right across London and South East England use our pre-purchase roof survey. Whether it’s a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, we follow the same careful process. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Common reasons to book are ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and a ridge or slope that dips, on the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, so a property in North Kensington might be any of these. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, the details that cause trouble depend on the age of the building. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- North Kensington (W10, NW10, W11)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in North Kensington
How do I find out if my home in North Kensington is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is drone flying allowed in North Kensington?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. North Kensington is about 2 miles from the edge of the flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea. The exact boundary is checked for each address before any flight, and a roof inside it needs permission before we fly. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable when booking.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in North Kensington?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run seven days a week.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain, 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 we will agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there is safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
These details help when you get in touch:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Checking the roof from the ground
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 and it will help the survey.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
North Kensington homes and their roofs
Kensington Palace, about 1.9 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around North Kensington. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Take an older house close to Dissenters' Chapel: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. North Kensington is in London, so parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door cannot be promised. Landlords with a home close to Kensal Green station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
North Kensington is about 2 miles north-west of Kensington, in Greater London. Surveys in North Kensington work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Across Greater London, we cover North Kensington and the places around it. There’s also a page for London.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in W10, NW10 and W11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Peach Road, Barlby Road and Eynham Road. Other places close to North Kensington include Kensal Town (1 mile east), Kensal Green (1 mile north-west), Kensal Rise (1 mile north), Notting Dale (1 mile south-east) and White City (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as London (6 miles east), City of Westminster (3 miles east), Marylebone (3 miles east), St Pancras (4 miles east), Shoreditch (6 miles east) and Walthamstow (9 miles north-east).
Around North Kensington
Typical jobs here are in homes near Little Wormwood Scrubs, Maida Vale School and The Eagle pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Kensal Green station, about 0.5 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Princess Louise Hospital (within half a mile south-west) and Culture House (1.3 miles south). Not far away are Campden Hill and Greville Place nature reserve.
Places near North Kensington
Other services in North Kensington
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is frequently on a shared landing. Where that’s the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Otherwise, the visit in North Kensington runs like any other.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Keep pets in another room
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
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For landlords and managing agents
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
What we can’t see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.