Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Old Ford
Wondering about the roof at a property in Old Ford? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Old Ford and across Greater London.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Why it’s worth a survey now in Old Ford
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Spotting it before you buy lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Behind a London parapet, a blocked gutter can sit full of water without anyone seeing it. When the stain finally shows, the damage underneath is often older than it looks.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Old Ford
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Surveys seven days a week
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Old Ford
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey lead flashings and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging.
London terraces and converted houses often share a roof line, chimney stacks and gutters with the house next door, with parapet walls and party-wall upstands marking where one roof ends and the next begins. For a purchase or a new roof in Old Ford, that shapes what can be checked: only the parts we’re given access to and can see safely are inspected. If it is a flat, the lease normally sets out who is responsible for the roof.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Old Ford (E3, E15, E9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Old Ford
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Height and safe access
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Which survey package you book
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Helping us price your survey
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Old Ford: local notes
The flight restriction zone around London City Airport comes within about 2 miles of Old Ford. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the exact boundary for the address before flying. Sutton House, about 1.5 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Old Ford. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
Landlords with a home close to Hackney Wick station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. The streets around a church like St Paul Old Ford are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Old Ford is in London, so parking needs planning: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking, as a space near the door can’t be promised.
Old Ford is about 2 miles west of Plaistow, in Greater London. Whether the building in Old Ford is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Across Greater London, we cover Old Ford and the places around it.
We work across the E3, E15 and E9 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Bow Road, Wick Lane and Dace Road. Close by, we survey roofs in Donnybrook Quarter (1 mile west), Fish Island (1 mile north), Bow (1 mile south-west), Hackney Wick (1 mile north) and Bromley (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Walthamstow (4 miles north).
What’s near Old Ford
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Lea Tavern, Grove Hall Park and Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy. The nearest railway station is Hackney Wick station, about 0.6 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Tower of London (3 miles south-west) and St Clement's Hospital (0.7 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Old Ford
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer.
The survey, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is often on a shared landing. Where that’s the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Advice
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Questions from Old Ford
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Old Ford?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Old Ford?
Sometimes, yes. If Old Ford has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer, and a driveway is even better.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when booking.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it usually takes between one and two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Also near Old Ford
What else we do in Old Ford
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles