Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Swanmore
A careful look at the roof at your property in Swanmore, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Swanmore
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and common reasons people get in touch are gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
In a smaller place like Swanmore, some houses face open ground, so their roofs may take more wind and driving rain. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather typically shows first. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are checked closely. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Swanmore (SO32)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Swanmore: local notes
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you let a flat or house near Botley station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. The streets around a church such as Church of St Barnabas are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Swanmore is about 6 miles east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. Anywhere in Swanmore, we can come and survey your property. Swanmore is one of the places in Hampshire where we work. You can also see our page for Southampton.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in SO32 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Church Road, Myers Close and Spring Vale or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Hill Grove (1 mile east), Upper Swanmore (1 mile north-east), Mislingford (1 mile south-east), Shirrell Heath (1 mile south) and Kingsmead (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (10 miles north-west), Gosport (10 miles south), Havant (10 miles south-east), Eastleigh (7 miles west), Fareham (6 miles south) and Horndean (8 miles east).
Near you in Swanmore
We work in homes and buildings around Swanmore College of Technology. The closest station to Swanmore is Botley station, roughly 3.7 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Bishop's Waltham Museum (1.7 miles north-west) and Knowle Hospital (4.3 miles south). Not far away are Beacon Hill and Bishops Waltham Branch LNR.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photos to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Swanmore
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Places near Swanmore
More services for Swanmore
Common questions in Swanmore
Do you cover Swanmore?
Yes, Swanmore is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Swanmore?
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.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
Why act early in Swanmore
A mortgage valuation isn’t a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. Blocked gutters on homes around Swanmore overflow and soak walls, particularly where trees overhang. It is easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
Honest limits
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- A structural engineer’s report
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
How it works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a smaller place like Swanmore, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.