Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Ramsden Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Ramsden. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That will not show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. A survey fills that gap before you commit. Older cottages and farmhouses around Ramsden can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why us?
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Ramsden
Some roofs cannot be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We’re frequently asked to look into slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and worn or lifted lead flashings, across lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and the roof space.
Being in a small place like Ramsden makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Ramsden (OX7)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Ramsden
What we look for on each type of roof
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Ramsden questions
Is Ramsden in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Ramsden as anywhere else.
Is my home in Ramsden listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there is safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Ramsden
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Minster Lovell Hall, about 3.1 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ramsden. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St James, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Ramsden is about 3 miles north of Witney, in Oxfordshire. Whether the building in Ramsden is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. Oxford is in our area too.
Surveys in OX7 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on High Street and Wilcote Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. If you are just outside Ramsden, we cover Finstock (1 mile north-east), Delly End (1 mile south), Fawler (2 miles north-east), Hailey (2 miles south) and Poffley End (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (12 miles south-east), Bicester (15 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles south-east), Witney (3 miles south), Carterton (7 miles south-west) and Faringdon (13 miles south).
Around Ramsden
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Royal Oak Public House. Ramsden’s nearest station is Finstock station, about 1.4 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Cogges Manor Farm Museum (3.6 miles south). For a walk, there is Blenheim Farm.
What we are asked to look at in Ramsden
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
If you own a rental within reach of Finstock station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
What to check before booking
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Will the report include photos?
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit normally 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. Around Ramsden, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about parking before the day
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
When you need someone else
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes