West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Southbourne
Wondering about the roof at a property in Southbourne? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Southbourne and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
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. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- A structural engineer’s report
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Southbourne
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof survey in Southbourne
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, lead flashings and valleys and clay and concrete tiles alike.
Smaller places like Southbourne often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you’re buying in Southbourne or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Southbourne (PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Southbourne
Also in Southbourne
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Local roofs and buyers in Southbourne
Southbourne lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, so exposed details get a careful look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you own a rental within reach of Southbourne station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Warblington Castle lies about 2.5 miles west, so building around Southbourne goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. Take an older house close to St. John's: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Southbourne is about 4 miles east of Havant, in West Sussex. Southbourne gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Southbourne is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO10. We cover properties on Lodgebury Close, Manor Road and Northcote Gardens. Close by, we survey roofs in Woodmancote (1 mile north), Lumley (1 mile west), Westbourne (1 mile north-west), Emsworth (1 mile west) and Thorney Island (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (11 miles south-east), Chichester (6 miles east), Selsey (10 miles south-east), Portfield (6 miles east), Yapton (13 miles east) and East Wittering (6 miles south).
Around Southbourne
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Traveller's Joy Public House, Eames Farm and Bourne Community College and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Southbourne itself: Southbourne station. Nearby you’ll also find Warblington Castle (2.5 miles west) and Emsworth Museum (1.3 miles west). Open spaces near Southbourne include Stoke Down and Brook Meadow (Emsworth).
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked.
The survey, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit normally takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Homes around Southbourne frequently have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Related advice
Useful tips for Southbourne property owners
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Anything about access we should know
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Southbourne: your questions answered
Is Southbourne within the area you cover?
Yes, Southbourne is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is the coastal weather around Southbourne hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.