West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Plaistow, West Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Plaistow from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Pre-purchase roof survey in Plaistow
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you’re committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the loft space where it’s safe to get in. You get a written report with photos. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, natural slate and lead flashings and valleys, and people most often book us about lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and standing water on a flat extension roof.
Being in a small place like Plaistow 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 booking. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Plaistow (RH14)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Practical tips
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Request records of any re-roofing
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Plaistow: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Plaistow?
Yes, Plaistow is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Plaistow is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will 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 you need access inside the house?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If we can’t get in, the report says so.
When to book a survey in Plaistow
Chimneys take the worst of the weather. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which can affect how any work is arranged.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- A ridge or slope that dips
In and around Plaistow, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early.
Before you book anyone
- Will the report include photos?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the price includes VAT
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Plaistow
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
For an older house near a landmark like Holy Trinity Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Plaistow is about 11 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. We visit Plaistow as part of our work across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Plaistow is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. There is also a page for Guildford.
All of RH14 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on The Street, Loxwood Road and Oakfield or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Plaistow: Durfold Wood (1 mile north-west), Ifold (1 mile east), Mackerel's Common (2 miles south), Loxwood (2 miles east) and Kirdford (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Horsham (11 miles east), Storrington (11 miles south-east), Billingshurst (6 miles south-east), Bewbush (15 miles east), Roffey (12 miles east) and Southwater (10 miles east).
Landmarks near Plaistow
For a walk, there’s Shillinglee Lake.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. 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 with far less room to act on them. Around Plaistow, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Every price we give includes VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Why us?
- An independent look at the roof
- Surveys seven days a week
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit normally takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older roofs in small places like Plaistow can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Honest limits
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate