Essex · London and the South East
Upshire Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Upshire, with photographs and a written report.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Upshire
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That is when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. We survey seven days a week, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. If you’ve noticed roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and damp timbers or stains in the loft, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Some older homes in villages like Upshire are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Upshire (EN9)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Upshire
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
More services for Upshire
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
What we’re asked to look at in Upshire
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
If you own a rental within reach of Cheshunt station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
What to check before booking
- What exactly goes into their report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
FAQs for Upshire
Is my home in Upshire listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Upshire in the area you cover?
Yes, Upshire is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photos.
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 can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a flue needs testing, we will suggest who to ask.
Upshire homes and their roofs
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Historic houses like Hill Hall, about 4.7 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Upshire goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Thomas, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Upshire is about 2 miles east of Waltham Abbey, in Essex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Upshire. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. London is in our area too.
All of EN9 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to Upshire include Waltham Abbey (2 miles west), High Beech (2 miles south), Debden Green (2 miles south-east), Theydon Bois (3 miles south-east) and Sewardstone (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Harlow (6 miles north-east), Brentwood (12 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south), Epping (3 miles east), Harold Wood (10 miles south-east) and Buckhurst Hill (4 miles south).
What’s near Upshire
We work in homes and buildings around King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy and The Woodbine pub, among other places. Upshire’s nearest station is Cheshunt station, about 3.1 miles west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include St. Margaret's Hospital (3.5 miles east) and Epping Signalling Museum (2.9 miles east). For a walk, there is Home Mead and Lippitts Hill.
How it works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a village or hamlet like Upshire, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Book a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.