Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Upper Arncott
A careful look at the roof at your property in Upper Arncott, with photographs and a written report.
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Questions from Upper Arncott
How do I find out if my home in Upper Arncott is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Upper Arncott?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when booking.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there is safe access, and views from upper windows help too. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain doesn’t normally stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Upper Arncott
A Basic Survey starts 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 written report with photographs and recommendations. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate, and people most often book us about sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and loose pots and cracked flaunching.
Some older homes in villages like Upper Arncott are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Upper Arncott (OX25)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Let us know your timetable
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Upper Arncott homes and their roofs
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Landlords with a home close to Bicester Village station may find that it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Historic houses like Boarstall Tower, about 2 miles south-east, show how far back building around Upper Arncott goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Upper Arncott is about 4 miles south-east of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. In Upper Arncott, as across Oxfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire. There’s also a page for Oxford.
We cover every part of the OX25 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You will find streets such as Hopcraft Close, Murcott Road and Teale Close. We also cover the places around Upper Arncott: Lower Arncott (1 mile north), Ambrosden (1 mile north), Murcott (2 miles south-west), Merton (2 miles west) and Fencott (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Oxford (8 miles south-west), Bicester (4 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles south-west), Thame (9 miles south-east), Kidlington (8 miles west) and Chinnor (14 miles south-east).
What’s near Upper Arncott
In Upper Arncott, that means homes and buildings near The Plough pub and the streets around them. Upper Arncott’s nearest station is Bicester Village station, about 3.3 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (3.7 miles north-west) and Bicester Village (3.4 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Otmoor RSPB reserve and Graven Hill.
What affects the price in Upper Arncott
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Height and safe access
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
Places near Upper Arncott
Other services in Upper Arncott
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
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
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. All told, expect an hour or two at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere as small as Upper Arncott, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.