Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Richmond upon Thames, Greater London
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Richmond upon Thames and the rest of Greater London. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Richmond upon Thames
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we check that too where access allows. If you’ve noticed sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints, we can find out what’s behind it.
In London, plenty of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, like flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. For a purchase in Richmond upon Thames, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a proper look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Richmond upon Thames (TW9, TW10, SW14, TW1)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- 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
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit typically takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so a visit in Richmond upon Thames moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, tell us who can let us into the shared parts.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Places near Richmond upon Thames
What else we do in Richmond upon Thames
Leave it or get it looked at?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. London’s older roofs often have bitumen felt underlay or none at all, so a slipped slate can soon mean water inside. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Why book us in Richmond upon Thames
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- 20+ years’ experience
- Prices that include VAT
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Richmond upon Thames
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Outer London has a good many Victorian and Edwardian terraces with slate roofs, but also a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
If you live in an older home near Holy Trinity Richmond, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. 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.
Richmond upon Thames is about 3 miles south of Ealing, in Greater London. Surveys in Richmond upon Thames work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. There’s also a page for London.
We cover every part of TW9, TW10, SW14 and TW1 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. You’ll find streets such as Church Road, King George Square and Topiary Square, and we cover them all. Main roads around Richmond upon Thames include the B321 and B322, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Richmond upon Thames include North Sheen (1 mile north-east), East Sheen (1 mile east), Mortlake (1 mile east), Kew (2 miles north-east) and Strand-on-the-Green (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include London (9 miles east), City of Westminster (7 miles north-east), Marylebone (8 miles north-east), Kensington (5 miles north-east), St Pancras (9 miles north-east) and Shoreditch (10 miles north-east).
Near you in Richmond upon Thames
In Richmond upon Thames, that means homes and buildings near Pesthouse Common, The White Horse Richmond pub and Kneller Hall Junior School. There’s a railway station in Richmond upon Thames itself: Richmond station. A little further out are Eel Pie Island Museum (1.5 miles south-west) and Treaty Centre (3 miles west). The countryside around Richmond upon Thames includes Duke's Hollow and Richmond Hill.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Richmond upon Thames
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Richmond upon Thames?
It depends on the street. If Richmond upon Thames has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer.
How do I find out if my home in Richmond upon Thames is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or email us. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Richmond upon Thames
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
When to book a survey in Richmond upon Thames
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
With Pembroke Lodge about 1.3 miles south, the area around Richmond upon Thames has a long history. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos