West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Singleton, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Singleton, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Old water stains in the loft space
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Singleton
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. If you’ve noticed worn or lifted lead flashings and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Being in a small place like Singleton makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, 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 records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Where
- Singleton (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we’re asked to look at in Singleton
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
For an older house near a landmark like The Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- What the survey will not cover
Tips that help
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Tell us your exchange date as you book
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Around Singleton, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before we arrive
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Check pets are kept safely away
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will recommend the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Questions from Singleton
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Singleton?
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 you cover smaller places like Singleton?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Singleton
With West Dean House about 1.2 miles west, Singleton sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Singleton is about 5 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. We cover Singleton and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO18. That includes homes and businesses on Downley Close, The Leys and Charlton Road and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Charlton (1 mile east), West Dean (1 mile west), East Dean (2 miles east), Cocking (3 miles north) and Heyshott (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles south), Chichester (5 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles south-east), Emsworth (9 miles south-west) and Rustington (13 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Singleton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Partridge Inn, among other places. A little further out are Weald and Downland Gridshell (within half a mile south-west) and Chichester Centre (4.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Singleton
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Booking your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It’s useful to include:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. We look at outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof.
Natural slate
Older slate roofs frequently have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it’s in.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Singleton
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.