Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in West Hampstead
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in West Hampstead, with photos and a clear written report.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in West Hampstead
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are signs of past leaks inside the loft and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
In London, a good many 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 West Hampstead, or for new roofing work there, those junctions deserve a proper look. Dormer cheeks, lead work and new flat roofs are worth checking closely, as faults there are easy to miss.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- West Hampstead (NW3, NW6, NW2)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in West Hampstead moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Tell us who holds the keys.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in West Hampstead?
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
For a London address like West Hampstead, it is useful to know about controlled parking before the day, along with any off-street space.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens after the report arrives
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Will the report include photos?
Nearby places to West Hampstead
More services for West Hampstead
Tips that help
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Let us know your timetable
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.
FAQs for West Hampstead
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in West Hampstead?
Parking in West Hampstead, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot, so mention what’s available when booking.
Is drone flying allowed in West Hampstead?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. 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. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
How do I book a survey in West Hampstead?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we will take it from there. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
For landlords and managing agents
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Buying a home or a new roof in West Hampstead
Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. The wider area around West Hampstead has a long history of building, with Fenton House about 0.5 miles north-east. 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 a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you live in an older home near Presbyterian Church Of St Andrew, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. For landlords with property near Finchley Road & Frognal station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
West Hampstead is about 3 miles north-west of City of Westminster, in Greater London. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in West Hampstead. We cover towns and villages across Greater London. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of NW3, NW6 and NW2 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Mill Lane, Acol Road and Ajax Road. You will find West Hampstead on the A502, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover the places around West Hampstead: Fortune Green (1 mile west), Hampstead (1 mile east), Greenhill (1 mile east), Childs Hill (1 mile north-west) and Vale of Health (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (6 miles south-east), City of Westminster (3 miles south-east), Marylebone (3 miles south-east), Kensington (4 miles south), St Pancras (4 miles south-east) and Shoreditch (5 miles east).
Near you in West Hampstead
In West Hampstead, that means homes and buildings near South Hampstead High School, Holly Bush pub and Kilburn Grange Park and the streets around them. West Hampstead has its own railway station: Finchley Road & Frognal station. Nearby you will also find Isokon Gallery (1.2 miles east) and New End Hospital (0.5 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Parliament Hill and Westbere Copse.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.