Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Wantage, Oxfordshire
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Wantage. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Wantage
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, while you are not yet committed. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Common reasons to book are flashings that have lifted or split and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, across natural slate, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys.
In a town the size of Wantage, most homes are houses rather than flats, so the roof is usually the owner’s alone to look after. That makes a roof defect a cost that falls on you: better found before exchange or final payment than after. With photos and written recommendations, you have clear points to take back to the seller or the roofer.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Wantage (OX12)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Wantage
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Towns and villages near Wantage
What else we do in Wantage
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
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.
FAQs for Wantage
How should I get ready for a visit in Wantage?
Very little. Unlock side gates, keep pets in another room and dig out any invoices from past roof work.
How do I find out if my home in Wantage 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.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
How do I book a survey in Wantage?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photographs. It isn’t a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
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. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Wantage
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. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 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, so check with the council.
In and around Wantage, as anywhere, a roof is easiest to deal with when its problems are found early. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Wantage is about 8 miles west of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Surveys in Wantage work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire. There is also a page for Oxford.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in OX12 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Market Place, Limborough Road and Humber Close or a nearby road, we can help. Wantage is on the A338 and A417, which makes it simple to reach. Close by, we survey roofs in Charlton (1 mile east), East Challow (1 mile west), Letcombe Regis (2 miles south-west), West Challow (2 miles west) and Childrey (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (14 miles north-east), Didcot (8 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles north-east), Witney (14 miles north), Carterton (14 miles north-west) and Faringdon (8 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Oxfordshire, Wantage has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Local landmarks in Wantage
Typical jobs here are in homes near King Alfred's, Betjeman Millennium Park and The Abingdon Arms. A little further out are Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection (1.9 miles north). The countryside around Wantage includes Letcombe Valley and Chain Hill.
Checking the roof from the ground
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
What we do, step by step
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a home in Wantage, the main things we need are a way into the loft, a route to the back garden and somewhere to park. Someone needs to let us in, so tell us who that will be.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- 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’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.