Surrey · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Oxted, Surrey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Oxted.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Oxted
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. Common reasons to book are gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, on lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and gutters and downpipes.
In a smaller place like Oxted, some houses face open ground, so their roofs may take more wind and driving rain. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. Whether you are buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a careful look. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Oxted (RH8)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Oxted: local notes
Older houses across Surrey often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Titsey Place, about 2 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Oxted. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. Take an older house close to St Agatha's Hall: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Oxted is about 7 miles east of Redhill, in Surrey. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Oxted and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Surrey. You can also see our page for Crawley.
All of RH8 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Station Road West, Station Road East and High Street, and we cover them all. Oxted is on the A25, so it is easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Hurst Green (1 mile south), Limpsfield (1 mile north-east), Pains-Hill (1 mile east), Tandridge (2 miles south-west) and The Chart (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (13 miles north-west), Horley (9 miles south-west), Redhill (7 miles west), Ewell (13 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (5 miles north-west).
What’s near Oxted
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Oxted School and Hurst Green Infant School, among other places. Oxted’s nearest station is Hurst Green station, about 0.5 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Bletchingley Castle (4.6 miles west) and East Surrey Museum (4 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Bay Pond and Botley Hill.
Towns and villages near Oxted
More services for Oxted
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Oxted
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, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
If you own a rental within reach of Hurst Green station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
What to check before booking
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What the survey won’t cover
Oxted questions
How do I find out if my home in Oxted is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Oxted in the area you cover?
Yes, Oxted is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
Useful tips for Oxted property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East frequently have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Rotten pegs let tiles slide, so we look for gaps along the courses.
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 missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- A structural engineer’s report
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
The survey, step by step
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Being in a smaller place like Oxted doesn’t change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.