Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Sutton, Greater London
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Sutton. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Sutton
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both. We survey the roof space, natural slate and chimney stacks, and people most often book us about standing water on a flat extension roof and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
In London, lots of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Each change adds roof details, such as flat roofs, new flashings and junctions with the original slopes. If you are buying a flat or house in Sutton, or have just had new roofing work done, those junctions are often where problems start. Lead work around dormers and new flat roofs is easy to get wrong and easy to miss.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Sutton (SM1, SM2, SM3, SM7)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, and it isn’t a flue or gas safety check. We’ll say if the flue needs a specialist.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Sutton
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. About 1.6 miles west lies Nonsuch Mansion, a reminder of how long the area around Sutton has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
For a London address like Sutton, it is useful to know about controlled parking before the day. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Nicholas Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Landlords with a home close to Sutton (London) station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Sutton is about 9 miles south of Kensington, in Greater London. Sutton is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for homes and businesses alike. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small. You can also see our page for London.
All of SM1, SM2, SM3 and SM7 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Manor Place and St Nicholas Way and the roads around them. Being close to the B2230, Sutton is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you are just outside Sutton, we cover Benhilton (1 mile north), Carshalton (1 mile east), Shanklin Village (1 mile south), St Helier (1 mile north) and Rosehill (1 mile north). Further out, we also cover London (10 miles north-east), City of Westminster (10 miles north), Marylebone (11 miles north), Kensington (9 miles north), St Pancras (12 miles north) and Shoreditch (12 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Sutton
We work in homes and buildings around Sutton Grammar School, The Grapes pub and Manor Park, among other places. Sutton has its own railway station: Sutton (London) station. Other landmarks nearby include St Helier Hospital (1.1 miles north-east) and Honeywood Museum (1.3 miles east). Not far away are Devonshire Avenue Nature Area and Duppas Hill.
More services for Sutton
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so a visit in Sutton moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, let us know who can let us into the shared parts.
- 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 roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
How to book
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Which survey package you book
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What to tell us when you contact us
There is no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Tips that help
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Share the report with your solicitor
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. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Leave it or get it looked at?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Work on a London roof is rarely simple to arrange, with parking, neighbours and access all to think about. That is a good reason to find problems early, while there’s time to plan.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What you get with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Prices that include VAT
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
Sutton questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sutton?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Are there drone restrictions around Sutton?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. 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. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you cover Sutton?
Yes. We survey roofs in Sutton and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and the South East. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
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.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.