Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in South Norwood, Greater London
A careful look at the roof at your property in South Norwood, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blocked or leaking gutters
About our pre-purchase roof survey in South Norwood
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. We are often asked to look into damp timbers or stains in the loft and slipped or missing slates and tiles, across clay and concrete tiles, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
In London, a good many houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, such as flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. For a purchase in South Norwood, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a close look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- South Norwood (SE25, SE20, CR0)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, typically to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
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, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
What this survey cannot tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in South Norwood
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The roof’s overall size
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
For a price for your roof in South Norwood, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What to let us know when you contact us
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Anything about access we should know
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Local roofs and buyers in South Norwood
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Kingswood House, about 2.2 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around South Norwood. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mark, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. For landlords with property near Norwood Junction station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
South Norwood is about 5 miles south-east of Stockwell, in Greater London. Wherever you are in South Norwood, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London.
We cover every part of SE25, SE20 and CR0 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Park Road, Court Road and Dixon Road. With the A213 close by, South Norwood is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover the places around South Norwood: Selhurst (1 mile north), Woodside (1 mile south), Ashburton (1 mile south), Elmers End (1 mile east) and Addiscombe (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like London (7 miles north), City of Westminster (9 miles north-west), Marylebone (9 miles north), Kensington (9 miles north-west), St Pancras (9 miles north) and Shoreditch (9 miles north).
Local landmarks in South Norwood
In South Norwood, that means homes and buildings near The Albion pub, South Norwood Recreation Ground and Harris Academy South Norwood and the streets around them. South Norwood has its own railway station: Norwood Junction station. Well-known places in the area include Croydon University Hospital (1.7 miles south-west) and Crystal Palace Museum (1.4 miles north). Open spaces near South Norwood include Dulwich Upper Wood and Duppas Hill.
Nearby places to South Norwood
What else we do in South Norwood
Leave it or get it looked at?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on any day of the week, and a Premium report comes the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. A hidden valley or parapet gutter on a London house can hold water for weeks before anyone notices. When the stain finally shows, the damage underneath is often older than it looks.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why book us in South Norwood
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. From the street, a London terrace typically shows only its front slope or parapet, so in South Norwood we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange 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 you book.
Advice
Common questions in South Norwood
Can parking be tricky for a visit in South Norwood?
Sometimes, yes. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well.
Are there drone restrictions around South Norwood?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we can’t promise any saving.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.