Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Paddington, Greater London
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Paddington, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Paddington
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. We survey lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and the problems we are asked to look at most are old water stains in the roof space and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs.
In London, a good many houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, like flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. If you’re buying a flat or house in Paddington, or have just had new roofing work done, those junctions are often where problems start. Lead work around dormers and new flat roofs is easy to get wrong and easy to miss.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Paddington (W2, W1H, W1U)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- When you need the report by
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
What we are asked to look at in Paddington
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
As a London address, Paddington can be tricky for parking: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier.
Before you book anyone
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- When you will get the report
When you need someone else
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Paddington: local notes
The restricted area over Hyde Park, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 1 mile from Paddington. If your survey includes the drone, we check whether the address falls inside it before flying. Historic houses such as Winfield House, about 1 mile north, show how far back building in the area around Paddington goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St John the Evangelist, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. Landlords with a home close to London Paddington station may find that it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Paddington is about 1 mile west of City of Westminster, in Greater London. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Paddington and the surrounding area. Paddington is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: W2, W1H and W1U. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Harrow Road, Craven Road and Harbet Road. Paddington sits on or near the A5 and A40, which makes travel easy. Other places close to Paddington include Paddington Green (1 mile north-west), Hyde Park Estate (1 mile south-east), Connaught Village (1 mile south-east), Tyburn (1 mile south-east) and Little Venice (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (4 miles east), Shoreditch (4 miles east), Walthamstow (8 miles north-east), Hoxton (4 miles east), Whitechapel (4 miles east) and Ruislip (11 miles west).
Local landmarks in Paddington
Typical jobs here are in homes near Royal Society of Medicine Library, Fountains Abbey pub and Royal Parks of London, among other places. Also close by are North Westminster Community School (less than half a mile north-east) and Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School (under half a mile east). Paddington has its own railway station: London Paddington station. A little further out are Harrods (1.3 miles south) and London Toy & Model Museum (0.5 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Greville Place nature reserve and The Long Water.
Paddington questions
Is drone flying allowed in Paddington?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Paddington is about 1 mile from the edge of the flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. Paddington is about 1 mile from the restricted area over Hyde Park, where drone flights need permission from NATS. We check whether the address falls inside it, and if it does we apply for permission, which isn’t always given. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
How do I find out if my home in Paddington is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
How do I book a survey in Paddington?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.
Also near Paddington
Also in Paddington
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In Paddington, as in much of London, lots of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Paddington
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Paddington. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can I check my roof myself?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.