Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Shortlands
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Shortlands, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Local roofs and buyers in Shortlands
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. With Bromley Palace about 0.8 miles north-east, Shortlands sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Shortlands station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. The streets around a church like St Mark's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Shortlands, along with any off-street space.
Shortlands is about 1 mile south-west of Bromley, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Shortlands as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Greater London coverage includes Shortlands. You can also see our page for London.
We work across the BR2, BR1 and BR3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Hayes Lane, Stone Road and Hayes Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover Eden Park (1 mile south-west), Hayes (2 miles south), Bromley Common (2 miles south-east), West Wickham (2 miles south-west) and Southborough (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (8 miles north-west), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (11 miles north-west), Kensington (11 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
Around Shortlands
In Shortlands, that means homes and buildings near The Richmal Crompton pub, Church House Gardens and Langley Park School for Girls and the streets around them. Shortlands’s nearest station is Shortlands station, roughly 0.5 miles north. A little further out are Bromley Hospital (0.7 miles east) and Bethlem Museum of the Mind (1.6 miles south-east). Not far away are Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shortlands
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you’re worried about blocked or leaking gutters and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a London terrace or conversion, the roof often joins the neighbours’ roofs and shares their stacks and gutters. For a purchase or a new roof in Shortlands, that shapes what can be checked: we inspect what we’re given access to and can see safely, which may not include a neighbour’s side. If it is a flat, the lease normally sets out who is responsible for the roof.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Shortlands (BR2, BR1, BR3)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
What we can’t see
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
Towns and villages near Shortlands
More services for Shortlands
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
The survey, step by step
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Getting a price
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. In Shortlands, as in much of London, water from a roof defect can reach a neighbour’s home as easily as yours: a blocked parapet gutter or slipped slate can let water into the flat below or the house next door. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why book us in Shortlands
- An independent view of the roof
- Prices that include VAT
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- PI and public liability insurance
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
Questions from Shortlands
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Shortlands?
Parking in Shortlands, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot.
Is my home in Shortlands listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you need access inside the house?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.