Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Ovingdean
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Ovingdean. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photographs. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. For a village or hamlet like Ovingdean, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- 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 the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ovingdean
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you’ve noticed blistered or split felt on a flat roof and flashings that have lifted or split, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, clay and concrete tiles and gutters and downpipes alike.
For a small place like Ovingdean, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Ovingdean (BN2)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs and buyers in Ovingdean
Ovingdean lies within about 1 mile of the sea, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. About 2.8 miles west lies Royal Pavilion, a reminder of how long the area around Ovingdean has been built on. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Moulsecoomb station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. If you live in an older home near St Wulfran's Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Ovingdean is about 3 miles south-east of Hanover, in Brighton and Hove. We survey roofs in Ovingdean and the rest of Brighton and Hove, as part of our work across London and South East England. Ovingdean is one of the towns and villages in Brighton and Hove we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: BN2. Whether your property is on Longhill Road, Ovingdean Road and Wanderdown Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover Rottingdean (1 mile east), Roedean (1 mile west), Saltdean (2 miles south-east), East Saltdean (2 miles south-east) and Telscombe (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns like Brighton (3 miles north-west), Brighton and Hove (5 miles west), Hove (4 miles west), Carlton Hill (3 miles west), Hanover (3 miles north-west) and West Hill (3 miles west).
Local landmarks in Ovingdean
Around Ovingdean, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Beacon Hill, Our Lady of Lourdes RC School and Duck Inn. For rail, the closest station is Moulsecoomb station, roughly 3 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Brighton Motor Museum (1.9 miles west) and French Convalescent Home (1.5 miles west). For a walk, there is Newmarket Hill and Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Ovingdean
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
Places near Ovingdean
More services for Ovingdean
Ovingdean questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ovingdean?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Ovingdean?
Often, yes. Within about 1 mile of the sea, as Ovingdean is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when booking.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Older slate roofs often 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.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Useful tips for Ovingdean property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, particularly where we have found patch repairs.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
What affects the price in Ovingdean
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Which survey package you book
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Building height and the viewpoints available
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.