Southampton · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Portswood, Southampton
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Portswood and the rest of Southampton. We survey on any day of the week.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. For a survey in Portswood, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets in another room
- Let us know about parking near the property
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
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Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Portswood
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. 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 also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. If you’re worried about signs of past leaks inside the loft and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Portswood, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from ground level, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you’re buying in Portswood or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Portswood (SO17, SO14, SO18)
- Region
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Portswood
What else we do in Portswood
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Tell us your exchange date as you book
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
When to book a survey in Portswood
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. It’s a frequent finding on older houses.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Flashings that have lifted or split
The streets around a church such as Highfield Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before booking anyone
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Will the report include photos?
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.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Portswood
We confirm the exact price before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The size of the roof
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Booking your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- When you need the report by
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Portswood
Portswood is within about 3 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. About 1 mile north-east lies South Stoneham House, a reminder of how long the area around Portswood has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For landlords with property near St Denys station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Portswood is about 1 mile north of Southampton, in Southampton. Roofs in Portswood get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Southampton. Our area takes in places right across Southampton, large and small.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in SO17, SO14 and SO18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Ivy Road, Alma Road and Lawn Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Main roads around Portswood include the A335 and A3035, which makes travel easy. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include St Denys (1 mile south-east), Southampton (1 mile south), Inner Avenue (1 mile south-west), Bitterne Manor (1 mile south-east) and Bitterne Park (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Thornhill (3 miles south-east), Maybush (3 miles west), Eling (4 miles west), Rownhams (3 miles north-west), Millbrook (3 miles west) and Weston (3 miles south).
Around Portswood
Around Portswood, our work takes us to homes and buildings near St Anne's Catholic School, St Mary's Independent School and South Western Arms, among other places. There is a railway station in Portswood itself: St Denys station. A little further out are Marlands Shopping Centre (1.5 miles south) and Royal South Hants Hospital (0.9 miles south). Open spaces near Portswood include Netley Common.
Questions from Portswood
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Portswood?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Are there drone restrictions around Portswood?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. The flight restriction zone around Southampton Airport covers Portswood, or comes right up to its edge. Before any flight there, we ask the airport for permission, and the flight only goes ahead if it’s given. Strong wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is typically arranged through the agent or seller.
Do you work in Portswood?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, Portswood included.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.