West Sussex · London and the South East
Rackham Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Rackham, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
What happens if roof problems are left?
Lots of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. You’ll know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. In a small place like Rackham, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Why book with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Rackham
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from ground level, windows and the loft instead. Typical surveys look at old water stains in the roof space and blocked or leaking gutters, on lead flashings and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks.
For a small place like Rackham, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on weekdays and at weekends.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Rackham (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Rackham
Do you cover Rackham?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Rackham listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes an hour or two at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older rural homes like those around Rackham can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Checking the roof from ground level
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we will recommend the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Rackham
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Historic houses such as Parham House, about 0.7 miles north-east, show how far back building around Rackham goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. Take an older house close to Church of St Peter: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Landlords with a home close to Amberley station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Rackham is about 7 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Rackham can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Rackham is one of the places in West Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of RH20 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Cross Gate (1 mile west), Amberley (1 mile west), Coldwaltham (2 miles north-west), Bury (2 miles west) and Hardham (3 miles north). Further out, we also cover Horsham (13 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (12 miles south-west), Chichester (13 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Rackham
Around Rackham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Parham Park. For rail, the closest station is Amberley station, about 1.9 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Arundel and District Hospital (4.8 miles south-west) and Amberley Museum (1.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Bignor Hill and Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve.
Places near Rackham
Other services in Rackham
What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.