Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Oxford
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Oxford, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Oxford
Is my home in Oxford listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How should I get ready for a visit in Oxford?
It helps to clear access to the loft, and to let us know about leaks, damp patches or recent work. Let us know about parking and access in Oxford too.
Do you work in Oxford?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Oxford included.
How do I book a survey in Oxford?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll suggest the right survey. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It usually takes an hour or two at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Oxford
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both. We survey natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and slipped or missing slates and tiles.
A place the size of Oxford has homes of every age, from older terraces and villas to post-war estates and recent developments. Older slate roofs, post-war concrete tiles and brand-new coverings each have their own typical faults. Whether you’re buying or have just paid for a new roof, knowing which you’re dealing with shapes what gets checked.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Oxford (OX4, OX3, OX2, OX1)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Oxford
More services for Oxford
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Oxford: local notes
The wider area around Oxford has a long history of building, with Holywell Manor about 0.8 miles north-west. 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. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Landlords with a home close to Oxford station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Oxford is in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Oxford and the rest of Oxfordshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Oxford is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: OX4, OX3, OX2 and OX1. Local streets include High Street, New High Street and Radcliffe Square, and we cover them all. Main roads around Oxford include the A34 and A40, which makes travel easy. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include St Clement's (1 mile west), Headington Hill (1 mile north-east), New Marston (1 mile north), Donnington (1 mile south) and St. Ebbes (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Didcot (10 miles south), Bicester (11 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles south-west), Witney (11 miles west), Thame (11 miles east) and Wantage (14 miles south-west). Oxford is among the bigger towns we cover in Oxfordshire.
What’s near Oxford
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Star pub, Alexander Library of Ornithology and Headington Rye Oxford. Other local landmarks include Cheney School (less than half a mile east) and South Park (under half a mile north-east). The nearest railway station is Oxford station, about 1.6 miles west. Nearby you will also find Warneford Hospital (less than half a mile east) and Rumble Museum (less than half a mile east). The countryside around Oxford includes CS Lewis Nature Reserve and Headington Hill.
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether timbers meet design loads
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it typically takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. If the property is near the centre of Oxford, let us know about car parks or permit rules nearby. We’ll want to see the loft, if there is one, and any ceiling or wall showing damp. Outside, the roof is viewed from every point that is safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it frequently give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are often the reason, and we note how widespread it looks.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
To price your survey, we check:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- House, block, shop or office
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Roof area
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What to tell us when you contact us
These details help when you get in touch:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us and give us a few details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Oxford?
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Take an older house close to St Clement's Church: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before booking anyone
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What exactly goes into their report
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Their insurance cover