West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Rudgwick
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Rudgwick from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Pre-purchase roof survey in Rudgwick
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you will be asking from facts rather than guesses. It also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. We are often asked to look into gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and worn or lifted lead flashings, across natural slate, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys.
Somewhere as small as Rudgwick, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Rudgwick (RH12)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Rudgwick
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
Common questions in Rudgwick
Do you cover smaller places like Rudgwick?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Rudgwick?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when you book.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. We can’t promise how the seller will respond.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
Nearby places to Rudgwick
Also in Rudgwick
Rudgwick homes and their roofs
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list.
If you let a flat or house near Christs Hospital station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Rudgwick is about 6 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Anywhere in Rudgwick, we can come and survey your property. Rudgwick is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Surveys in RH12 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We cover properties on Station Road, Thurne Way and Jubilee Road. Close by, we survey roofs in Bucks Green (1 mile south-west), Tisman's Common (1 mile west), The Haven (2 miles south), Slinfold (2 miles south-east) and Five Oaks (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Crawley (11 miles east), Horsham (6 miles east), Broadfield (10 miles east), Storrington (12 miles south), Billingshurst (5 miles south) and Bewbush (10 miles east).
Landmarks near Rudgwick
Typical jobs here are in homes near Pennthorpe School and The Queen's Head Public House. Rudgwick’s nearest station is Christs Hospital station, roughly 4.6 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Horsham Hospital (5.6 miles east).
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, 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 an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a small place like Rudgwick, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
What we are asked to look at in Rudgwick
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Common reasons to book include:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
The streets around a church like Holy Trinity Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before booking anyone
- When you will get the report
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
Useful tips for Rudgwick property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photos to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That will not show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. A survey fills that gap before you commit. Older cottages and farmhouses around Rudgwick can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Why us?
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Prices that include VAT
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
See our cost guide or two real surveys.