East Sussex · London and the South East
Rotherfield Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Rotherfield, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
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 the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Rotherfield
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. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, 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. We are often asked to look into gutters choked with leaves and moss and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone, on chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and the roof space.
Being in a small place like Rotherfield makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Rotherfield (TN6)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Rotherfield?
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blocked or leaking gutters
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Denys, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- When you will get the report
- What happens after the report arrives
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
FAQs for Rotherfield
Is Rotherfield in the area you cover?
Yes, Rotherfield is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Rotherfield as anywhere else.
Do you cover smaller places like Rotherfield?
Yes, Rotherfield is covered. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
How do I book a survey in Rotherfield?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the roof space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes about one to two hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older roofs in small places like Rotherfield can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Leave side gates unlocked
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Read more
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Rotherfield
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you own a rental within reach of Crowborough station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Rotherfield is about 2 miles east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Bookings from Rotherfield are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our East Sussex coverage includes Rotherfield. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
Every address in TN6 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Church Road, Station Road and Church Walk and the roads around them. Other places close to Rotherfield include High Cross (1 mile south-east), Town Row (1 mile north-east), Argos Hill (1 mile south-east), Mark Cross (2 miles north-east) and Woolbridge (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Lewes (15 miles south-west), Hailsham (13 miles south), Uckfield (7 miles south-west), South Malling (15 miles south-west), Heathfield (6 miles south) and Southover (15 miles south-west).
Near you in Rotherfield
In Rotherfield, that means homes and buildings near Beacon Academy, The King's Arms Public House and St Joseph Seminary and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Crowborough station, about 1.3 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (2.7 miles west). Not far away are Crowborough Country Park.
Places near Rotherfield
What else we do in Rotherfield
Why get it checked now?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but too late to use them in the purchase. Around Rotherfield, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in Rotherfield
- Surveys seven days a week
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask for loft access on the day
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.