Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Wandsworth, Greater London
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Wandsworth, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Wandsworth
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, 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. Common reasons to book are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, on lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
In London, plenty of houses have been split into flats, extended or fitted with a dormer loft conversion. Every alteration brings new junctions, flashings and flat-roof areas to look at. For a purchase in Wandsworth, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a proper look. Lead work around dormers and new flat roofs is easy to get wrong and easy to miss.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- Wandsworth (SW18, SW15, SW11)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Wandsworth
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Why it is worth a survey now in Wandsworth
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. We fill that gap before you’re tied in, with photos of anything that needs attention. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Finding it early keeps the work smaller.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Wandsworth
- Visits on any day of the week
- Plain-English reports with photos
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
What we do, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. Most surveys take between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In Wandsworth, as in much of London, lots of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, tell us when you book.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Wandsworth
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
FAQs for Wandsworth
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Wandsworth?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around London Heliport in Battersea covers Wandsworth, or comes right up to its edge. We ask the heliport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, and the rest of the survey doesn’t depend on the drone.
How do I find out if my home in Wandsworth is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
Do you cover Wandsworth for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Wandsworth.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Also near Wandsworth
More services for Wandsworth
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Wandsworth
Historic houses such as Fulham Palace, about 1.5 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Wandsworth goes. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
If you live in an older home near St Anne's Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. If you own a rental within reach of Wandsworth Town station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Wandsworth.
Wandsworth is about 3 miles south-west of Brompton, in Greater London. Wandsworth is one of many places we visit across Greater London. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Here we cover the SW18, SW15 and SW11 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Alma Road, Marl Road and Knoll Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Wandsworth: Southfields (1 mile south), Earlsfield (1 mile south), Hurlingham (1 mile north), Clapham Junction (1 mile north-east) and Battersea (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover London (5 miles north-east), City of Westminster (4 miles north), Marylebone (5 miles north-east), Kensington (3 miles north), St Pancras (6 miles north-east) and Shoreditch (7 miles north-east).
Near you in Wandsworth
Typical jobs here are in homes near Ashcroft Technology Academy, Emanuel School and Spread Eagle pub. There’s a railway station in Wandsworth itself: Wandsworth Town station. Other landmarks nearby include Southside Wandsworth (less than half a mile west) and Antique Breadboard Museum (1.4 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Battersea Park Lake and Henman Hill.