East Sussex · London and the South East
Ratton Village Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Ratton Village from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Ratton Village
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We’re often asked to look into standing water on a flat extension roof and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, across natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Ratton Village, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Ratton Village. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Ratton Village (BN20, BN21, BN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
Ratton Village: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Ratton Village?
Yes, Ratton Village is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Ratton Village?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the loft space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Nearby places to Ratton Village
What else we do in Ratton Village
Buying a home or a new roof in Ratton Village
Ratton Village 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 can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. For landlords with property near Hampden Park station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Ratton Village is about 2 miles west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Ratton Village and the rest of East Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in BN20, BN21 and BN22 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Park Lane, Butts Lane and Ruskin Road or a nearby road, we can help. With the A2270 close by, Ratton Village is easy for us to reach for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you are just outside Ratton Village, we cover Hampden Park (1 mile east), Old Town (1 mile south), Eastbourne (2 miles east), Upperton (2 miles south-east) and Jevington (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles north-east), Seaford (6 miles west), Lewes (12 miles north-west), Hailsham (5 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles east).
What’s near Ratton Village
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Red Lion pub, Gildrege Park and Ratton School. Ratton Village’s nearest station is Hampden Park station, roughly 1.2 miles east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Filching Manor And Motor Museum (1.6 miles north-west) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (0.7 miles south-east). Open spaces near Ratton Village include Combe Hill.
What affects the price in Ratton Village
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Roof area
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What to let us know when you get in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- When you need the report by
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Parking around Ratton Village is typically easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where it applies.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Getting a price
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Ratton Village, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
What we are asked to look at in Ratton Village
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
Look out for signs like these:
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Historic houses such as Alfriston Clergy House, about 4.3 miles west, show how far back building around Ratton Village goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
What to check before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How soon the report will arrive
- Their insurance cover
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
For landlords and managing agents
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.