Greater London · London and the South East
Purley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Purley, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Purley
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. Typical surveys look at standing water on a flat extension roof and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, across the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate.
London terraces and converted houses often share a roof line, chimney stacks and gutters with the house next door. For a purchase or a new roof in Purley, that shapes what can be checked: only the parts we are given access to and can see safely are inspected. For a flat, the lease normally says who looks after the roof.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Purley (CR8, CR2, CR5)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it 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. For a visit in Purley, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at everything that’s safely in view from the ground, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
How to prepare
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
More services for Purley
Why act early in Purley
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. You’ll know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Work on a London roof is rarely simple to arrange, with parking, neighbours and access all to think about. Knowing what’s needed early gives you time to plan it calmly, rather than in a rush after a leak.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Purley
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Plain-English reports with photos
- PI and public liability insurance
- Prices that include VAT
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we look at each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Purley: your questions answered
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Purley?
Sometimes, yes. If Purley has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer, and a driveway is even better.
How do I find out if my home in Purley 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.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
What we cannot see
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Purley
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most. Historic houses like Addington Palace, about 3.6 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Purley goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Purley station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Swithun's, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Purley.
Purley is about 2 miles south-west of Croydon, in Greater London. In Purley, as across Greater London, every roof gets the same careful survey. Purley is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CR8, CR2 and CR5 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include High Street, Church Road and Brighton Road, and we cover them all. Main roads around Purley include the A2022, which makes travel easy. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Peaks Hill (1 mile north-west), Woodcote (1 mile west), Russell Hill (1 mile north), Roundshaw (1 mile north-west) and Woodcote Green (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns like London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (12 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
What’s near Purley
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Jolly Farmers pub, Laleham Lea School and Thomas More Catholic School. There is a railway station in Purley itself: Purley station. Nearby you’ll also find Purley War Memorial Hospital (less than half a mile north-east) and St George's Walk (2.7 miles north). Not far away are Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
Useful tips for Purley property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we cannot promise any result.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.