Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Swalcliffe Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Swalcliffe, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photos.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Pre-purchase roof survey in Swalcliffe: what you get
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a report with photos and recommendations. If you’ve noticed slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a village or hamlet like Swalcliffe, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Swalcliffe (OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
DIY checks: what’s safe
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
What we do, step by step
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a hamlet or village like Swalcliffe, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- 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 is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Booking a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Common questions in Swalcliffe
Do you carry out roof surveys in Swalcliffe?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Swalcliffe is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
Is my home in Swalcliffe listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
How soon is the report ready?
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 you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
How long does the survey visit take?
It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Nearby places to Swalcliffe
Other services in Swalcliffe
Why it’s worth a survey now in Swalcliffe
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Spotting it before you buy means you know about it from day one. For older village homes like those around Swalcliffe, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
Why book with us
- Plain-English reports with photos
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
When to book a survey in Swalcliffe
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- 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
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Peter and St Paul, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before you book anyone
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Local roofs and buyers in Swalcliffe
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Historic houses like Broughton Castle, about 2.5 miles east, show how far back building around Swalcliffe goes. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Swalcliffe is about 5 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Swalcliffe can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Swalcliffe. Oxford is in our area too.
Every address in OX15 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. You will find streets such as The Green, Bakers Lane and Brick Row, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Tadmarton (1 mile east), Burdrop (1 mile west), Sibford Ferris (1 mile west), Sibford Gower (2 miles west) and Shutford (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Banbury (5 miles east), Bure Park (15 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (8 miles south-west), Neithrop (4 miles north-east), Grimsbury (6 miles east) and Ruscote (4 miles north-east).
Near you in Swalcliffe
In Swalcliffe, that means homes and buildings near The Lampet Arms and the streets around them. Nearby you’ll also find Bloxham Village Museum (3.5 miles south-east) and Broughton Castle (2.5 miles east). For a walk, there is Crouch Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Swalcliffe
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- House, block, shop or office
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The roof’s overall size
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What we need to know
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to tell us:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.