Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Rowner, Hampshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Rowner, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Rowner
If you’re buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. 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 look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. We are often asked to look into standing water on a flat extension roof and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, across chimney stacks, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Rowner, 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 Rowner. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Where
- Rowner (PO13, PO14)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a flue needs testing, we’ll suggest who to ask.
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 missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Places near Rowner
What else we do in Rowner
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Rowner
Rowner lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off 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. If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
For landlords with property near Fareham station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Rowner is about 2 miles north-west of Gosport, in Hampshire. We visit Rowner as part of our work across Hampshire, for homes and businesses alike. Rowner is one of the towns and villages in Hampshire where we work.
We work across PO13 and PO14 for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Wych Lane, Camp Road and Keyes Road. If you’re just outside Rowner, we cover Bridgemary (1 mile south-east), Peel Common (1 mile west), Crofton (1 mile west), Elson (1 mile south-east) and Lee-on-the-Solent (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Havant (9 miles east), Eastleigh (12 miles north-west), Horndean (9 miles north-east), Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-west), Hedge End (9 miles north-west) and Waterlooville (8 miles north-east).
What’s near Rowner
Around Rowner, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Holbrook Primary School, The Green Dragon pub and Baycroft School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Fareham station, about 2.3 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Gosport War Memorial Hospital (2.3 miles south-east) and Portchester Castle (2.9 miles east). The countryside around Rowner includes West of the River Alver and Portsdown Hill.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Rowner
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
What we do, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Rowner, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed beforehand.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Rowner?
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
The streets around a church such as St Matthew's are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before you book anyone
- Are they insured for the work?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How soon the report will arrive
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
FAQs for Rowner
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Rowner?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Rowner is within about 2 miles of the coast.
Will you come out to Rowner?
Yes. Rowner is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
How do I book a survey in Rowner?
Simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to.