Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Sway, Hampshire
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Sway, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Sway
Buyers in Sway and right across London and South East England use our pre-purchase roof survey. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. If you’ve noticed standing water on a flat extension roof and blocked or leaking gutters, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a smaller place like Sway, homes are mostly houses and bungalows, from older cottages to more recent builds. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs frequently have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Sway (SO41)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Sway
Sway is within about 4 miles of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you let a flat or house near Sway station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Take an older house close to St Luke's Church: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Sway is about 3 miles north-west of Lymington, in Hampshire. We survey roofs in Sway across London and South East England. Across Hampshire, we cover Sway. You can also see our page for Southampton.
Every address in SO41 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Station Road, Anderwood Drive and Cruse Close or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover Mead End (1 mile west), Tiptoe (1 mile south-west), Hordle (2 miles south), Ashley (2 miles south-west) and Bashley (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Totton (10 miles north-east), Lymington (3 miles south-east), Romsey (15 miles north), Hythe (10 miles north-east), New Milton (3 miles south-west) and Ringwood (9 miles north-west).
Near you in Sway
We work in homes and buildings around Forest Heath Hotel. There is a railway station in Sway itself: Sway station. Well-known places in the area include Lymington New Forest Hospital (2.9 miles south-east) and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (3.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Milford on Sea LNR.
Why act early in Sway
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Spotting it before you buy lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. On a bungalow or cottage around Sway, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so water can show inside quickly once it gets past the covering. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Sway
- Package prices that include VAT
- An independent look at the roof
- 20+ years’ experience
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Which survey package you book
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What we need to know
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Other services in Sway
Landlord and commercial surveys in Sway
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’, and we note how widespread it looks.
How the survey works
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Sway, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we cannot get to. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Questions from Sway
How do I find out if my home in Sway is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is the coastal weather around Sway hard on roofs?
Often, yes. Sway is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, which you can share with the seller or agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.