Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Richmond, Greater London
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Richmond.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof survey in Richmond
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. At that point you can still ask questions, because nothing is binding yet. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. If you’ve noticed damp timbers or stains in the loft and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Richmond might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Richmond (TW9, TW1, TW10)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take between one and two hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
When to book a survey in Richmond
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
As a London address, Richmond can be tricky for parking: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when you book, as a space near the door can’t be promised.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How soon the report will arrive
- What insurance they carry
- Their track record with similar roofs
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Richmond
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Richmond?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Richmond?
It depends on the street. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How soon is the report ready?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable when booking.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Useful tips for Richmond property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Richmond
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and a Premium report comes the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left alone, that means wet timbers and plaster, which is a far bigger job than the roof fault itself.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why book with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Visits on any day of the week
- A written report with photos
Also near Richmond
Other services in Richmond
What this survey cannot tell you
It helps to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Richmond: local notes
Outer London has lots of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with slate roofs, but also a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles. If your home in Richmond is one of them, bay roofs, hips and later dormers each have their own details. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. About 1 mile south lies Pembroke Lodge, a reminder of how long the area around Richmond has been built on. 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.
For landlords with property near Richmond station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. If you live in an older home near The Vineyard Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Richmond is about 5 miles south-west of Kensington, in Greater London. We visit Richmond as part of our work across Greater London, for homes and businesses alike. Across Greater London, we cover Richmond. We also survey roofs in London.
Every address in TW9, TW1 and TW10 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Kew Road, Dee Road and Park Road. We also cover the places around Richmond: Petersham (1 mile south), St Margarets (1 mile west), Eel Pie Island (1 mile south-west), Ham (1 mile south) and Isleworth (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover London (9 miles east), City of Westminster (8 miles north-east), Marylebone (8 miles north-east), Kensington (5 miles north-east), St Pancras (9 miles north-east) and Shoreditch (11 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Richmond
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Victoria pub, Christ's Church of England Comprehensive Secondary School and Terrace and Buccleuch Gardens. For rail, the closest station is Richmond station, about 0.5 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Eel Pie Island Museum (1.2 miles south-west) and South Middlesex Hospital (1.6 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Richmond Hill and Ham Lands.