West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Southwater, West Sussex
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Southwater? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
We confirm the price for your survey before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- How big the roof is
- Which survey package you book
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Getting in touch
A little information up front helps. It’s useful to include:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Southwater
Buyers in Southwater and right across London and South East England use our pre-purchase roof survey. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what is not and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We are often asked to look into gutters choked with leaves and moss and chimney mortar that has eroded, across natural slate, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Southwater, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Southwater. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Southwater (RH13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, usually to the back of the house. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Southwater: local notes
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
For an older house near a landmark such as Holy Innocents Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Southwater is about 3 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Southwater. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. There is also a page for Crawley.
We cover every part of the RH13 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Station Road, Walmer Close and Pevensey Road, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Southwater, we cover Tower Hill (2 miles north), Nuthurst (2 miles east), Brooks Green (2 miles west), Barns Green (2 miles west) and Maplehurst (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (9 miles north-east), Horsham (3 miles north), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (11 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles south).
Near you in Southwater
Around Southwater, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Lintot pub and The Doyle School of Design and Technology. Southwater’s nearest station is Christs Hospital station, about 1.9 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Christs Hospital School Museum (1.5 miles north-west) and Horsham Hospital (3.2 miles north). The countryside around Southwater includes Knepp Wildland.
Also near Southwater
More services for Southwater
Southwater: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Southwater?
Yes, Southwater is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Southwater is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit normally takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Southwater
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Common roof problems in Southwater
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. We check them as part of the survey.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
If you let a flat or house near Christs Hospital station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
What to check before booking
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their report turnaround times
- What insurance they carry
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
What we can’t see
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take between one and two hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. A visit to Southwater is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed beforehand. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- 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.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.