Hampshire · London and the South East
Waltham Chase Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Waltham Chase, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Waltham Chase
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. If you are worried about lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and signs of past leaks inside the loft, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and clay and concrete tiles alike.
In a village or hamlet like Waltham Chase, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Waltham Chase (SO32)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Waltham Chase
Other services in Waltham Chase
How the survey changes by roof type
Natural slate
Older slate roofs frequently have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Waltham Chase
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a small place like Waltham Chase, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Honest limits
It helps to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Waltham Chase
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The size of the roof
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
What we need to know
There’s no need for technical words. It is enough to let us know:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Local roofs and buyers in Waltham Chase
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
Landlords with a home close to Botley station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. If you live in an older home near Waltham Chase Methodist Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Waltham Chase is about 5 miles east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. In Waltham Chase, as across Hampshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Hampshire. For surveys nearby, see our Southampton page.
We work across the SO32 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Chase Grove, Club House Lane and Sandy Hill Close and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Waltham Chase: Bishop's Waltham (2 miles north), Curdridge (2 miles south-west), Ashton (3 miles north), Durley Street (3 miles north-west) and Durley (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Winchester (10 miles north-west), Gosport (9 miles south), Havant (11 miles south-east), Eastleigh (7 miles west), Fareham (6 miles south) and Horndean (9 miles east).
Around Waltham Chase
In Waltham Chase, that means homes and buildings near The Black Dog pub and Swanmore College of Technology, among other places. The nearest railway station is Botley station, about 2.7 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Bishop's Waltham Museum (1.4 miles north-west) and Knowle Hospital (3.7 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Bishops Waltham Branch LNR.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Waltham Chase
How do I find out if my home in Waltham Chase is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Waltham Chase in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How long does the survey visit take?
It usually takes about one to two hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your exchange date and we will help you choose.
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. The outcome is between you and the seller.