Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shutford, Oxfordshire
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Shutford and across Oxfordshire, with plain-English findings.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Leave it or get it looked at?
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. A roof survey is carried out for the buyer. For older village homes like those around Shutford, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
Why book with us
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- An independent look at the roof
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Shutford
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it’s safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey natural slate, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
Older buildings in small places like Shutford may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
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.
- Where
- Shutford (OX15)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Shutford
Is Shutford within the area you cover?
Yes, Shutford is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Shutford?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Shutford is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How do I book a survey in Shutford?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you want to find out. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and views from upper windows help too. Access is typically arranged through the agent or seller.
What happens on the day
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. A typical visit takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older roofs in small places like Shutford can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- 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.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Checking the roof from the ground
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Useful tips for Shutford property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Every so often, 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.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Shutford
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we look at:
- Which survey package you book
- How big the roof is
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- House, block, shop or office
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What we need to know
These details help when you get in touch:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Shutford
The wider area around Shutford has a long history of building, with Broughton Castle about 2.4 miles south-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Landlords with a home close to Banbury station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Take an older house close to Church of St Martin: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Shutford is about 4 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Shutford can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Shutford is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: OX15. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Malthouse Lane, Ivy Lane and Cook's Hill or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover Balscote (1 mile north), Alkerton (2 miles north), Swalcliffe (2 miles south), Tadmarton (2 miles south) and Shenington (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Banbury (4 miles east), Chipping Norton (10 miles south-west), Neithrop (3 miles east), Grimsbury (5 miles east), Ruscote (3 miles east) and Woodstock (15 miles south).
Landmarks near Shutford
Typical jobs here are in homes near George And Dragon Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Banbury station, roughly 4.7 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Horton General Hospital (4.3 miles east) and Broughton Castle (2.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Shutford includes Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool and Crouch Hill.