Southampton · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Northam
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Northam, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Northam
Buyers in Northam and right across London and the South East use our pre-purchase roof survey. Whether it is 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 hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We survey chimney stacks, the roof space and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are slipped or missing slates and tiles and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Northam, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Northam. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Northam (SO14, SO19, SO18)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Northam
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Augustine, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What happens after the report arrives
- Are they insured for the work?
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Surveys for landlords and agents in Northam
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Places near Northam
What else we do in Northam
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Northam
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Height and safe access
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Roof area
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Booking your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The address and postcode of the property
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
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 phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
What we cannot see
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
Questions from Northam
Is my home in Northam listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Northam?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. The flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport covers Northam, or comes right up to its edge. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access; we’ll agree the details when you book.
Northam homes and their roofs
Northam is within about 2 miles of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, so exposed details get a careful look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Northam is inside, or right on the edge of, the flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport. If the drone is used for your survey, we ask the airport for permission first, and only fly if it’s given.
If you let a flat or house near Bitterne station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Historic houses such as Southampton Tudor House and Garden, about 1.3 miles south-west, show how far back building around Northam goes. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Northam is about 1 mile south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. Anywhere in Northam, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property. Our Southampton coverage includes Northam.
Every address in SO14, SO19 and SO18 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Sea Road, Lumpy Lane and Cross Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Northam: Peartree Green (1 mile south), Bitterne Manor (1 mile north), Itchen (1 mile south-east), St Mary's (1 mile south-west) and Bitterne (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (3 miles north-west), Coxford (3 miles north-west), Lordswood (3 miles north-west), Eling (5 miles west) and Rownhams (4 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Northam
In Northam, that means homes and buildings near Inspire Enterprise Academy, East Park and The Engineers Arms, among other places. The closest station to Northam is Bitterne station, roughly 0.6 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.8 miles east) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.2 miles west). The countryside around Northam includes Netley Common.
What happens on the day
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take an hour or two at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Parking around Northam is usually easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where it applies.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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 we arrive
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.