Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in St Ives, Hampshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for St Ives, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Pre-purchase roof survey in St Ives: what you get
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We’re often asked to look into patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and loose pots and cracked flaunching, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and gutters and downpipes.
Somewhere as small as St Ives, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- St Ives (BH24)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely. Most surveys take an hour or two at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Around St Ives, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Advice
Questions from St Ives
Do you cover smaller places like St Ives?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you cover St Ives?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
When will the report arrive?
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 when booking.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It usually takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Local roofs and buyers in St Ives
A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Avon Tyrrell House, about 4.5 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around St Ives. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
If you live in an older home near All Saints, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
St Ives is in Hampshire. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in St Ives and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Southampton page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the BH24 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Compton Beeches, Post Office Lane and Azalea Close or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around St Ives: Ashley Heath (1 mile west), Avon Castle (1 mile south-east), St Leonards (1 mile south-west) and Matchams (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Totton (15 miles east), Lymington (13 miles south-east), New Milton (9 miles south-east), Barton on Sea (10 miles south-east), Ashley (10 miles south-east) and Milford on Sea (13 miles south-east).
Landmarks near St Ives
Around St Ives, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Ringwood School, Ringwood Waldorf School and Avon Heath Country Park and the streets around them. Other landmarks nearby include St Leonard's Hospital (1.8 miles south-west). The countryside around St Ives includes Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
Surveys for landlords and agents in St Ives
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Why it is worth a survey now in St Ives
Without a survey, you are relying on a glance from the pavement. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. A survey fills that gap before you commit, with photos of anything that needs attention. In a small place like St Ives, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Surveys seven days a week
- Prices that include VAT
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or 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, and we can’t promise any result.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
What this survey cannot tell you
It’s useful to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles