Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shirley, Greater London
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Shirley, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Why it is worth a survey now in Shirley
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. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but too late to use them in the purchase. Many older London roofs have only old felt under the slates, or no underlay at all, so once the slates or flashings let water past, little stops it reaching ceilings. Left unchecked, water soaks into timber and plaster and the damage spreads.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Shirley
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Shirley
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Choose the level that suits the home you’re buying. All three include a written report with photos and recommendations. Common reasons to book are sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and blocked or leaking gutters, on lead flashings and valleys, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks.
London terraces and converted houses frequently share a roof line, chimney stacks and gutters with the house next door, with parapet walls and party-wall upstands marking where one roof ends and the next begins. That matters for anyone buying in Shirley or checking a new roof there: only the parts we are given access to and can see safely are inspected. If it’s a flat, the lease usually sets out who is responsible for the roof.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- Shirley (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Shirley
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Shirley?
Sometimes, yes. If Shirley has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Shirley?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Do you work in Shirley?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and that includes Shirley.
More services for Shirley
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Which survey package you book
- Height and safe access
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Booking your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- When you need the report by
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Shirley, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Shirley homes and their roofs
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Alongside Victorian and Edwardian terraces, outer London has a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs of clay or concrete tiles. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
For landlords with property near Elmers End station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Shirley is in London, so parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier, as a space near the door can’t be promised. With Addington Palace about 1.7 miles south, the area around Shirley has a long history. If you are buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Shirley is about 2 miles north-east of Croydon, in Greater London. Anywhere in Shirley, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Shirley is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. London is in our area too.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CR0, SE25 and CR9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Poppy Lane, Homer Road and Craven Road or a nearby road, we can help. Shirley is on the A232, which makes it simple to reach. Other places close to Shirley include Monks Orchard (1 mile north), Shirley Oaks (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile west), Ashburton (1 mile north-west) and Woodside (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (8 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
Local landmarks in Shirley
Around Shirley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Cricketers pub, Ashburton Park and Orchard Way Primary School. The closest station to Shirley is Elmers End station, roughly 1.2 miles north. Nearby you will also find Crystal Palace Museum (2.8 miles north) and St George's Walk (2 miles west). Not far away are Duppas Hill and Bramley Bank.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. If you have questions on the day, just ask. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so in Shirley we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. If other people live in the building, tell us who can let us into the shared parts.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
What this survey can’t tell you
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- A structural engineer’s report
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
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.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Let us know your timetable
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Book once your offer is accepted
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.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.