West Sussex · London and the South East
West Hoathly Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in West Hoathly, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- A ridge or slope that dips
About our pre-purchase roof survey in West Hoathly
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you’re buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. If you’re worried about signs of past leaks inside the loft and standing water on a flat extension roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, chimney stacks and the roof space alike.
In a village or hamlet like West Hoathly, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- West Hoathly (RH19)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Also near West Hoathly
Other services in West Hoathly
Pre-purchase roof surveys in West Hoathly: local notes
Historic houses like Priest House, about 0.2 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around West Hoathly goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Margaret's Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you let a flat or house near East Grinstead station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
West Hoathly is about 4 miles south-west of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. If you are in West Hoathly, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. West Hoathly is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. Crawley is in our area too.
We work across the RH19 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Hilltop Road, Sandy Lane and North Lane, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around West Hoathly: Sharpthorne (1 mile east), Selsfield Common (1 mile north-west), Highbrook (2 miles south), Little London (2 miles south-west) and Ardingly (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (6 miles west), Horsham (12 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south), Burgess Hill (9 miles south), East Grinstead (4 miles north-east) and Broadfield (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in West Hoathly
In West Hoathly, that means homes and buildings near The Fox pub. The nearest railway station is East Grinstead station, about 3.7 miles north-east. A little further out are East Grinstead Museum (3.8 miles north-east) and Waterbury Castle (2.8 miles south). Open spaces near West Hoathly include Hedgecourt Lake.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes between one and two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Around West Hoathly, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Height and safe access
- Roof area
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
Helping us price your survey
We will typically ask about:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Anything about access we should know
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
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 West Hoathly
Do you cover West Hoathly?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Is West Hoathly within the area you cover?
Yes. West Hoathly is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.