West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Poynings, West Sussex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Poynings. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Common questions in Poynings
Is Poynings within the area you cover?
Yes. Poynings is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is the coastal weather around Poynings hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Poynings is within about 5 miles of the coast.
How do I book a survey in Poynings?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
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.
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, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Poynings
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We check as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, lead flashings and valleys and natural slate, and people most often book us about chimney mortar that has eroded and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
For a small place like Poynings, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on any day of the week.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Poynings (BN45)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Poynings: local notes
Poynings is within about 5 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Portslade Manor, about 3.7 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Poynings. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Hassocks station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Poynings is about 4 miles north of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. We visit Poynings as part of our work across West Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex.
Surveys in BN45 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on The Street and Cora's Walk and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Poynings: Fulking (1 mile south-west), Hangleton (3 miles south), Portslade (4 miles south), Castle Town (4 miles west) and Kingston by Sea (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (10 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (5 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (15 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Poynings
We work in homes and buildings around Royal Oak pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Hassocks station, about 3.3 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (2.9 miles north-east) and Southlands Hospital (4.4 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Wolstonbury Hill and Woods Mill.
How it works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey typically takes about one to two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a small place like Poynings, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, tell us about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Surveys for landlords and agents in Poynings
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Poynings and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or email us.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- How big the roof is
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What to let us know when you contact us
These details help when you contact us:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Anything about access we should know
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Checking the roof from the ground
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- 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
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
When to book a survey in Poynings
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
For an older house near a landmark like The Church of the Holy Trinity, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos