Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Owlswick Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Owlswick and the rest of Buckinghamshire. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Landlords, agents and block managers in Owlswick
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Owlswick
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 look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. If you’ve noticed loose pots and cracked flaunching and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, we can find out what’s behind it, on the roof space, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Being in a small place like Owlswick makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays and at weekends.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Place
- Owlswick (HP27)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Owlswick
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. For a village or hamlet like Owlswick, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Book a survey
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Useful tips for Owlswick property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- A structural engineer’s report
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
Buying a home or a new roof in Owlswick
Thatch survives on some older buildings in Buckinghamshire’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
For an older house near a landmark such as Owlswick Chapel, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. If you let a flat or house near Monks Risborough station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Owlswick is about 5 miles east of Thame, in Buckinghamshire. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Owlswick for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Owlswick is one of the places in Buckinghamshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Oxford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: HP27. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Meadle (1 mile east), Longwick (1 mile south), Ilmer (1 mile west), Alscot (1 mile south-east) and Monks Risborough (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Aylesbury (5 miles north), High Wycombe (9 miles south-east), Chesham (11 miles east), Marlow (13 miles south), Amersham (12 miles south-east) and Beaconsfield (13 miles south-east).
Near you in Owlswick
We work in homes and buildings around Princes Risborough School and The Red Lion Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Owlswick is Monks Risborough station, about 1.5 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include St John's Hospital (3.7 miles north) and Great Kimble Dial Hill (2.1 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Beacon Hill and Brush Hill Local Nature Reserve.
How the survey changes by roof type
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and lead is also a target for theft.
Why get it checked now?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but too late to use them in the purchase. For an older or listed building in a place like Owlswick, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- Visits on any day of the week
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
Owlswick questions
Do you cover smaller places like Owlswick?
Yes, Owlswick is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is my home in Owlswick listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photographs. It isn’t a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
How soon is the report ready?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Tell us your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.