West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in West Dean, West Sussex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in West Dean. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
What this survey can’t tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Pre-purchase roof survey in West Dean: what you get
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 can’t be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. We survey the roof space, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are worn or lifted lead flashings and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof.
In a village or hamlet like West Dean, homes are often 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, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- West Dean (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
West Dean questions
How do I find out if my home in West Dean is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you carry out roof surveys in West Dean?
Yes, West Dean is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.
What’s the best way to book?
Simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
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 doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Spotting it before you buy means you know about it from day one. In a small place like West Dean, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before you book.
Why book with us
- Every finding written up with photos
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% customer satisfaction
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Surveys for landlords and agents in West Dean
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in West Dean. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Checking the roof from the ground
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Cottages and farmhouses around West Dean often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Book a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Advice
Buying a home or a new roof in West Dean
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. West Dean House, about 0.1 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around West Dean. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of St Andrew, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. Landlords with a home close to Fishbourne station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
West Dean is about 4 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Surveys in West Dean work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at what can be seen safely, photos and a clear written report. Our West Sussex coverage includes West Dean. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
We cover every part of the PO18 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Singleton (1 mile east), Charlton (2 miles east), East Dean (3 miles east), Cocking (3 miles north) and Bepton (4 miles north). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (9 miles south-east), Chichester (4 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles south-east), Emsworth (8 miles south-west) and Rustington (13 miles south-east).
What’s near West Dean
The nearest railway station is Fishbourne station, roughly 4.8 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Chichester Castle (4.5 miles south) and Museum of Gardening (under half a mile north-east). For a walk, there’s Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- House, block, shop or office
- Height and safe access
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Roof area
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.