East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Vines Cross, East Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Vines Cross. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Old water stains in the roof space
- A ridge or slope that dips
Common questions in Vines Cross
Do you carry out roof surveys in Vines Cross?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Vines Cross is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Vines Cross 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 fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. 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.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Vines Cross
If you’re buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. We survey the roof space, lead flashings and valleys and natural slate, and people most frequently book us about lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and a ridge or slope that dips.
For a small place like Vines Cross, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
You receive the findings 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.
- Where
- Vines Cross (TN21)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Without a survey, you’re relying on a glance from the pavement. That won’t show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. We fill that gap before you’re tied in, with photos of anything that needs attention. Around Vines Cross, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book us in Vines Cross
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
How the survey works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a hamlet or village like Vines Cross, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Read more
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Towns and villages near Vines Cross
More services for Vines Cross
Buying a home or a new roof in Vines Cross
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds. About 3.6 miles south lies Horselunges Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Vines Cross has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Vines Cross is about 5 miles north of Hailsham, in East Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Vines Cross, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
We survey roofs across TN21 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Warbleton (1 mile north-east), Horam (1 mile west), Maynard's Green (1 mile north-west), Burlow (2 miles south-west) and Old Heathfield (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (10 miles south), Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Seaford (13 miles south-west), Lewes (12 miles west) and Hailsham (5 miles south).
Local landmarks in Vines Cross
In Vines Cross, that means homes and buildings near The Brewers Arms and Heathfield Community College. A little further out are Old Castle (3.9 miles east) and Sussex Farm Museum (1.1 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Selwyns Wood.
When to book a survey in Vines Cross
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Mary: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What they won’t be able to tell you
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Vines Cross
We confirm the price for the job before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- How big the roof is
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- House, block, shop or office
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Where the property is, with the postcode
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.