Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Southborough, Greater London
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Southborough and the rest of Greater London. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Southborough
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where it applies, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. We are frequently asked to look into loose pots and cracked flaunching and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, on lead flashings and valleys, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and chimney stacks.
In a London terrace or conversion, the roof frequently joins the neighbours’ roofs and shares their stacks and gutters, with parapet walls and party-wall upstands marking where one roof ends and the next begins. That matters for anyone buying in Southborough or checking a new roof there: we inspect what we are given access to and can see safely, which may not include a neighbour’s side. If it’s a flat, the lease typically sets out who is responsible for the roof.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Southborough (BR2, BR1)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’, and we note how widespread it looks.
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings, as far as we can see them safely.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Southborough homes and their roofs
Bromley Palace, about 1.4 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Southborough. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Parking in Southborough, as in most of London, takes a little planning: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space as you book, as a space near the door cannot be promised. Landlords with a home close to Bickley station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Southborough is about 2 miles south-east of Bromley, in Greater London. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Southborough and the surrounding area. Southborough is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover. You can also see our page for London.
We work across BR2 and BR1 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets such as Pope Road, Crown Lane and Union Road, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Southborough, we cover Bromley Common (1 mile south-west), Petts Wood (1 mile east), Locksbottom (2 miles south-east), Shortlands (2 miles west) and Crofton (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (10 miles north-west), City of Westminster (12 miles north-west), Marylebone (12 miles north-west), Kensington (13 miles north-west), St Pancras (12 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (11 miles north-west).
Near you in Southborough
Typical jobs here are in homes near Bishop Justus CofE School, Jubilee Country Park and The Chequers Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Bickley station, roughly 0.7 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Bethlem Museum of the Mind (0.9 miles south-west) and Bridgeways Day Hospital (under half a mile south). Open spaces near Southborough include Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
Southborough questions
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Southborough?
Usually it’s manageable with a little notice. Let us know what parking is available nearby, and the visit is planned around it.
Are there drone restrictions around Southborough?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions 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. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable as you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It isn’t a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings.
Common roof problems in Southborough
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It is frequently found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Take an older house close to St Augustine's Church: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Questions to ask before you book
- What experience they bring
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Surveys for landlords and agents in Southborough
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
What we do, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take an hour or two for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know as you book.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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Why get it checked now?
The lender’s valuation is done for the lender, not for you. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, and it will not look closely at the roof. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork, which can lead to damp inside. A blocked outlet ignored for a winter or two can mean damp walls inside.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.