Greater London · London and the South East
St James's Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for St James's, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- A ridge or slope that dips
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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. Do not go up yourself.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Pre-purchase roof survey in St James's: what you get
We survey roofs for buyers in St James's and across London and South East England. Whether it is a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, 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 book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. If you are worried about chimney mortar that has eroded and standing water on a flat extension roof, we can find out what’s behind it, on gutters and downpipes, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles alike.
Homes across London range from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war blocks and new developments, so a property in St James's might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slates, hidden valley gutters, parapets and flat roofs over back additions all need checking in their own way.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- St James's (W1F, W1D, W1J)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in St James's
How do I find out if my home in St James's is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in St James's?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea comes within about 2 miles of St James's. We check the exact boundary for the address before flying, and if the roof falls inside it, we ask for permission first. The restricted area over Hyde Park, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 2 miles from St James's. We check whether the address falls inside it, and if it does we apply for permission, which is not always given. 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. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Do you cover St James's for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes, we do. St James's is part of the area we cover.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What happens on the day
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Surveys in St James's can be booked for any day of the week. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay. Upstairs rooms at the back are useful too, as they frequently give the best view of a rear addition.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Leave a clear route to the loft
How to book
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Also near St James's
More services for St James's
For landlords and managing agents
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Local roofs and buyers in St James's
The flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea comes within about 2 miles of St James's. Where the drone is part of the survey, the exact boundary is checked for the address first. The restricted area over Hyde Park, where drone flights need permission from NATS, is about 2 miles from St James's. If the drone is used for your survey, the address is checked against it before any flight.
As a London address, St James's can be tricky for parking: let us know about parking bays, permits or a driveway when you book, as a space near the door can’t be promised. Landlords with a home close to London Charing Cross station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. Marlborough House, about 0.3 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around St James's. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
St James's is about 1 mile south-east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. Bookings from St James's are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small.
Here we cover the W1F, W1D and W1J postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Duck Lane, Bruton Lane and Bridle Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. St James's sits on or near the A4 and A400, so getting to you is simple. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Chinatown (1 mile north), Charing Cross (1 mile east), Soho (1 mile north), West End (1 mile north-east) and Burlington Estate (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Kensington (3 miles west), Shoreditch (3 miles north-east), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hoxton (3 miles north-east), Whitechapel (3 miles east) and Hampstead (4 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in St James's
Around St James's, our work takes us to homes and buildings near LITE Regal International School, Tom Cribb pub and London Library. Also close by are Harris Westminster Sixth Form (0.6 miles south) and St Anne's Churchyard (within half a mile north). There’s a railway station in St James's itself: London Charing Cross station. Nearby you will also find The Museum of Practical Geology (under half a mile north-west) and Montfichet's Tower (1.4 miles east). The countryside around St James's includes St. James's Park Lake and Ludgate Hill.
What affects the price in St James's
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How big the roof is
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Height and safe access
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
What to let us know when you get in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
What we can’t see
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in St James's
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers