Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in South Stoke, Oxfordshire
Pre-purchase roof surveys in South Stoke and the rest of Oxfordshire. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in South Stoke
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. If the building has a flat roof, we check that too where access allows. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings and valleys, and people most frequently book us about worn or lifted lead flashings and chimney mortar that has eroded.
Some older homes in villages like South Stoke are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, like when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- South Stoke (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted.
Common questions in South Stoke
How do I find out if my home in South Stoke 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.
Is South Stoke within the area you cover?
Yes. South Stoke is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
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.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
What’s the best way to book?
Just ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Landlords and agents in South Stoke book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs.
Also in South Stoke
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in South Stoke?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Andrew, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Their insurance cover
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
How the survey works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Rural addresses near South Stoke can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know about parking near the property
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That is where a survey comes in.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in South Stoke
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Height and safe access
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Anything about access we should know
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in South Stoke: local notes
The wider area around South Stoke has a long history of building, with Basildon Park about 3.5 miles south. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you let a flat or house near Cholsey station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
South Stoke is about 6 miles south-east of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. In South Stoke, as across Oxfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Surveys in RG8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on The Street, Ferry Road and Cross Keys Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to South Stoke include Moulsford (1 mile west), Goring (2 miles south), North Stoke (2 miles north-east), Cholsey (2 miles north) and Streatley (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Oxford (15 miles north), Didcot (6 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (11 miles north-west), Thame (15 miles north-east), Wantage (13 miles west) and Henley-on-Thames (10 miles east).
Near you in South Stoke
In South Stoke, that means homes and buildings near The Perch and Pike pub and Cranford House School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Cholsey station, roughly 1.8 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Wallingford Castle (3.8 miles north). Open spaces near South Stoke include Churn Hill and Withymead Nature Reserve.