West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Poling
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Poling from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Common questions in Poling
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Poling?
It can do. Poling is within about 3 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Will you come out to Poling?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
How soon is the report ready?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS 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 our survey gives you that closer look. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we cannot promise any saving.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Poling
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you’ll be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. If you’ve noticed quick fixes on flashings and valleys and old water stains in the roof space, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Being in a small place like Poling makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Where
- Poling (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Poling
Other services in Poling
When to book a survey in Poling
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Landlords with a home close to Arundel station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Before booking anyone
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What follow-up you get after the report
Buying a home or a new roof in Poling
Poling is within about 3 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, so exposed details get a careful look whether you are buying or signing off new work. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Ecclesden Manor lies about 2 miles east, so building around Poling goes back a long way. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Nicholas, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Poling is about 2 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We cover Poling and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Poling is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of BN18 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We also cover the places around Poling: Crossbush (1 mile north-west), Warningcamp (1 mile north-west), Toddington (1 mile south-west), Lyminster (2 miles west) and Rustington (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (5 miles east), Bognor Regis (8 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles west), Selsey (14 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (11 miles east) and Lancing (8 miles east).
Local landmarks in Poling
For rail, the closest station is Arundel station, about 1.6 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Rustington Museum (2 miles south) and Zachary Merton Hospital (2.1 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Highdown Hill and WWT Arundel.
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. For a village or hamlet like Poling, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Poling and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, particularly where we have found patch repairs.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Roof area
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Anything about access we should know
- What made you get in touch
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.