West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Saddlescombe, West Sussex
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Saddlescombe? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Pre-purchase roof survey in Saddlescombe
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you’re buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We’re often asked to look into gutters choked with leaves and moss and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, across lead flashings and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks.
For a small place like Saddlescombe, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you are 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: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- Saddlescombe (BN45)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Let us know your timetable
- 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. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, especially where we’ve found patch repairs.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Saddlescombe homes and their roofs
Saddlescombe lies within about 4 miles of the sea, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
The streets around a church like The Church of the Holy Trinity are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Landlords with a home close to Hassocks station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. With Portslade Manor about 3.3 miles south, the area around Saddlescombe has a long history. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Saddlescombe is about 4 miles north of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. Surveys in Saddlescombe work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at everything that’s safely in view, photos and a clear written report. Saddlescombe is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in BN45 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Pyecombe (1 mile north-east), Waterhall (2 miles south-east), Westdene (2 miles south-east), Patcham (3 miles south-east) and West Blatchington (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (10 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (6 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles south-west).
Around Saddlescombe
Around Saddlescombe, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Waterhall and Royal Oak pub. For rail, the closest station is Hassocks station, about 3.2 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Montefiore Hospital (4.3 miles south-east) and Clayton Castle (2.5 miles north-east). Open spaces near Saddlescombe include Wolstonbury Hill and Ladies Mile.
Saddlescombe questions
Is my home in Saddlescombe listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Saddlescombe within the area you cover?
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 as you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Saddlescombe?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How quickly will I get the report?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Tell us your exchange date and we will help you choose.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit typically takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Without a survey, you’re relying on a glance from the pavement. That won’t show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. We fill that gap before you’re tied in, with photos of anything that needs attention. Outbuildings and barns around Saddlescombe are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Saddlescombe
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- An independent look at the roof
- Surveys seven days a week
- Photos and a written report every time
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
Honest limits
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Towns and villages near Saddlescombe
What else we do in Saddlescombe
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit usually takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Cottages and farmhouses around Saddlescombe frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from 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.
Before the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.