Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in North Ockendon, Greater London
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in North Ockendon? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in North Ockendon
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you’re tied in. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there is safe access. You get a report with photographs. We survey chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and people most frequently book us about gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
In a London terrace or conversion, the roof often joins the neighbours’ roofs and shares their stacks and gutters. For a purchase or a new roof in North Ockendon, that shapes what can be checked: we inspect what we are given access to and can see safely, which may not include a neighbour’s side. For a flat, the lease typically says who looks after the roof.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- North Ockendon (RM14)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
North Ockendon questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in North Ockendon?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is drone flying allowed in North Ockendon?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. 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. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in North Ockendon
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How big the roof is
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
What to tell us when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Also near North Ockendon
More services for North Ockendon
Common roof problems in North Ockendon
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Look out for signs like these:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary Magdalene, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What experience they bring
- When you’ll get the report
How the survey works
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In North Ockendon, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, tell us as you book.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
Related advice
What you can safely check yourself
A lot can be seen from ground level. 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.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Let us know your timetable
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, particularly where we’ve found patch repairs.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in North Ockendon: local notes
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. If your home in North Ockendon is one of them, bay roofs, hips and later dormers each have their own details. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. The wider area around North Ockendon has a long history of building, with Hare Hall about 4.5 miles north-west. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For landlords with property near Ockendon station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. North Ockendon is in London, so parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door can’t be promised.
North Ockendon is about 3 miles east of Hornchurch, in Greater London. Bookings from North Ockendon are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Greater London, we cover North Ockendon and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of RM14 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Puddle Dock (1 mile north), Cranham (2 miles north-west), Upminster (2 miles north-west), South Ockendon (2 miles south) and Upminster Bridge (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Walthamstow (14 miles west), Whitechapel (15 miles west), Orpington (14 miles south-west), Plaistow (11 miles west), Leyton (13 miles west) and New Cross (15 miles west).
Near you in North Ockendon
Around North Ockendon, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Eastbrook School, among other places. North Ockendon’s nearest station is Ockendon station, roughly 1.5 miles south. Nearby you will also find Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia (2.1 miles north-west) and St George's Hospital (3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Cranham Marsh.