West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Portslade
Wondering about the roof at a property in Portslade? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Portslade and across West Sussex.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Pre-purchase roof survey in Portslade
If you are buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof.
Around Portslade, you will mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Older roofs often have bitumen felt under the coverings, as breathable membranes only arrived in the late 1990s.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Portslade (BN41, BN3, BN42)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. On timing, it normally takes about one to two hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Portslade is booked with the forecast in mind: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from ground level and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- 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.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
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What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The size of the roof
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
All our prices include VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
There’s no need for technical words. It is enough to let us know:
- 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
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Portslade
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Portslade, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you own a rental within reach of Fishersgate station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Portslade Manor lies about 0.1 miles south-west, so building around Portslade goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. For an older house near a landmark such as St Nicolas Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Portslade is about 1 mile west of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Portslade can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: BN41, BN3 and BN42. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Mill Lane, Crown Road and Drove Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. You’ll find Portslade on the A293, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to Portslade include Hangleton (1 mile north-east), Southwick (1 mile south-west), Kingston by Sea (1 mile west), Shoreham-by-Sea (2 miles west) and Old Shoreham (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (12 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (9 miles north-east), Littlehampton (14 miles west), Lancing (5 miles west) and Rustington (13 miles west).
Landmarks near Portslade
We work in homes and buildings around King's School, Benfield Hill and The Mill House, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Fishersgate station, roughly 0.7 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find British Engineerium (1.8 miles east) and Southlands Hospital (1.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Shoreham Beach and Thundersbarrow Hill.
What happens if roof problems are left?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. With lower homes, common in places like Portslade, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so water can show inside quickly once it gets past the covering. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Every finding written up with photos
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What this survey can’t tell you
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Portslade
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
Common questions in Portslade
Do you cover smaller places like Portslade?
Yes. Portslade is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Portslade?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Will you need to get into the loft?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
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 photographs.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you as you book.
Places near Portslade
What else we do in Portslade
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters.