Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Oakwood
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Oakwood? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Oakwood
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours is not a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both. We survey clay and concrete tiles, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are loose pots and cracked flaunching and worn or lifted lead flashings.
In London, lots of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Every alteration brings new junctions, flashings and flat-roof areas to look at. For a purchase in Oakwood, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a careful look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Oakwood (N14, N21, EN2)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
It helps to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Why it’s worth a survey now in Oakwood
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, and it will not look closely at the roof. Our survey is done for you. Any roof job in Oakwood means planning around parking, neighbours and access. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why book us in Oakwood
- Prices that include VAT
- PI and public liability insurance
- 20+ years’ experience
- Visits on any day of the week
How it works
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. In Oakwood, as in much of London, a good many properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents as you book.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Oakwood
Other services in Oakwood
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
Natural slate
Older slate roofs frequently have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
FAQs for Oakwood
How do I find out if my home in Oakwood is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Are there drone restrictions around Oakwood?
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, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Is Oakwood in your area?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and that includes Oakwood.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Oakwood
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Anything about access we should know
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Oakwood
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Historic houses like Forty Hall, about 3.1 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Oakwood goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Winchmore Hill station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. The streets around a church like St Thomas's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Oakwood.
Oakwood is about 2 miles west of Enfield, in Greater London. Surveys in Oakwood work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Our Greater London coverage includes Oakwood. London is in our area too.
All of N14, N21 and EN2 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Ivy Road, Green Road and Chase Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Oakwood: World's End (1 mile east), Osidge (1 mile south-west), Southgate (1 mile south), Grange Park (1 mile east) and East Barnet (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include London (10 miles south), City of Westminster (9 miles south), Marylebone (9 miles south), Kensington (10 miles south), St Pancras (8 miles south) and Shoreditch (8 miles south).
Around Oakwood
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The New Crown pub, Oakwood Park and Southgate School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Winchmore Hill station, about 1.3 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Grand Arcade (2.9 miles south-west) and Broomfield House Museum (1.9 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Oakleigh Park Rail Cutting and Darland's Lake.
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.