West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in West Ashling, West Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys around West Ashling, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in West Ashling
Buyers in West Ashling and right across London and the South East use our pre-purchase roof survey. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. If you are worried about damp timbers or stains in the loft and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on clay and concrete tiles, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys alike.
Some older homes in villages like West Ashling are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- West Ashling (PO18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older rural homes like those around West Ashling can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Also near West Ashling
Other services in West Ashling
What happens if roof problems are left?
Sellers aren’t always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. For an older or listed building in a place like West Ashling, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
West Ashling questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around West Ashling, take more of a battering?
It can do. West Ashling is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Is West Ashling within the area you cover?
Yes. West Ashling is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Practical tips
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Let us know your timetable
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Landlord and commercial surveys in West Ashling
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Landlords and agents in West Ashling book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in West Ashling
The coast is about 4 miles or less from West Ashling, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, so exposed details get a proper look whether you are buying or signing off new work. 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. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you own a rental within reach of Bosham station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of St Mary, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. West Dean House lies about 4.6 miles north-east, so building around West Ashling goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
West Ashling is about 3 miles north-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. West Ashling is one of many places we visit across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Our West Sussex coverage includes West Ashling. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
We cover every part of PO18 for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Heather Close, Ashling Close and Portal Close. We also cover East Ashling (1 mile east), Funtington (1 mile north-west), Broadbridge (1 mile south), Hambrook (1 mile west) and West Stoke (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles south-east), Selsey (9 miles south), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (4 miles west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
Near you in West Ashling
In West Ashling, that means homes and buildings near The Horse And Groom Public House and the streets around them. West Ashling’s nearest station is Bosham station, roughly 1.2 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Centre (3.6 miles east) and Chichester Castle (3.5 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Stoke Down.