West Sussex · London and the South East
South Bersted Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in South Bersted and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
About our pre-purchase roof survey in South Bersted
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We survey natural slate, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are standing water on a flat extension roof and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like South Bersted, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Low roofs are easier to see from ground level, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you’re buying in South Bersted or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- South Bersted (PO21, PO22, BN14)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
A little information up front helps. It is useful to include:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- When you need the report by
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The property’s address and postcode
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Also in South Bersted
Can I check my roof myself?
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.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Why get it checked now?
A good many buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. The report shows what needs doing first, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Around South Bersted, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls. It is easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why book us in South Bersted
- Surveys on any day of the week
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent view of the roof
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in South Bersted
South Bersted lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary Magdalene, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
South Bersted is about 1 mile north-east of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Wherever you are in South Bersted, we can come and survey your property. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Surveys in PO21, PO22 and BN14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on Ivy Lane, Hook Lane and Essex Road. If you’re just outside South Bersted, we cover Bognor Regis (1 mile south-west), Felpham (1 mile east), Shripney (1 mile north), Aldwick (2 miles south-west) and Flansham (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (12 miles east), Chichester (6 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles east), Emsworth (12 miles west) and Rustington (7 miles east).
Local landmarks in South Bersted
Around South Bersted, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Brooks Local Nature Reserve, The Regis School and The William Hardwicke pub. There’s a railway station in South Bersted itself: Bognor Regis station. Other landmarks nearby include Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (within half a mile south) and Bognor Regis Museum (0.8 miles south).
The survey, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take an hour or two at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a smaller place like South Bersted, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, 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.
Before we arrive
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
What we cannot see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
Common roof problems in South Bersted
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
If you let a flat or house near Bognor Regis station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What happens after the report arrives
- What experience they bring
South Bersted questions
How do I find out if my home in South Bersted is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around South Bersted, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it typically shows.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Do you cover South Bersted?
Yes. We survey roofs in South Bersted and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We’ll talk about access when you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.