Greater London · London and the South East
Sutton Common Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Sutton Common, with photos and a clear written report.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Let us know your timetable
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Sutton Common
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are chimney mortar that has eroded and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in Sutton Common 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. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Sutton Common (SM4, SM3, SM1)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Sutton Common
More services for Sutton Common
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The roof’s overall size
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Booking your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What made you get in touch
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Questions from Sutton Common
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sutton Common?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Are there drone restrictions around Sutton Common?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run seven days a week. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where we can, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
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 complements one rather than replacing it.
How do I book a survey in Sutton Common?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Sutton Common
Alongside Victorian and Edwardian terraces, outer London has a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs of clay or concrete tiles. If your home in Sutton Common is one of them, bay roofs, hips and later dormers each have their own details. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St Lawrence Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. For landlords with property near St Helier station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Parking in Sutton Common, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day easier.
Sutton Common is about 3 miles south of Wimbledon, in Greater London. Sutton Common is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Greater London. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We work across SM4, SM3 and SM1 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Fir Road, Ash Road and Love Lane and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Morden (1 mile north-west), Lower Morden (1 mile west), North Cheam (1 mile south-west), Cuddington (2 miles south-west) and Stoneleigh (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover London (9 miles north-east), City of Westminster (9 miles north), Marylebone (10 miles north), Kensington (8 miles north), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (11 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Sutton Common
We work in homes and buildings around Lord Nelson pub, Merton College and Glenthorne High School and the streets around them. Sutton Common has its own railway station: St Helier station. Well-known places in the area include Wandle Industrial Museum (1.9 miles north-east) and St Helier Hospital (0.7 miles east). Not far away are Henman Hill and Morden Park (park).
The survey, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In Sutton Common, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. London parking is frequently by permit or pay-and-display, so it helps to know what’s near you. Upstairs rooms at the back are useful too, as they frequently give the best view of a rear addition.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- 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
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork. A blocked outlet ignored for a winter or two can mean damp walls inside.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Sutton Common
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- An independent look at the roof
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.