West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Westbourne, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Westbourne and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Westbourne: local notes
Westbourne lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Historic houses such as Warblington Castle, about 2.2 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Westbourne goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Emsworth station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Westbourne is about 3 miles east of Havant, in West Sussex. Bookings from Westbourne are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO10. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on The Square, Church Road and Crockford Road. We also cover the places around Westbourne: Lumley (1 mile south), Woodmancote (1 mile east), Emsworth (1 mile south-west), Southbourne (1 mile south-east) and Denvilles (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (12 miles south-east), Chichester (7 miles east), Selsey (11 miles south-east), Portfield (7 miles east), Yapton (14 miles east) and East Wittering (7 miles south).
Around Westbourne
Typical jobs here are in homes near Stansted Park, The Good Intent Public House and Bourne Community College and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Emsworth station, about 1 mile south-west. Well-known places in the area include Warblington Castle (2.2 miles south-west) and Havant War Memorial Hospital (2.8 miles west). The countryside around Westbourne includes Stoke Down and Brook Meadow (Emsworth).
Pre-purchase roof survey in Westbourne
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you are committed. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the roof space where it’s safe to get in. You get a report with photographs. We survey lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles, and the problems we are asked to look at most are chimney mortar that has eroded and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
For a small place like Westbourne, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Westbourne (PO10)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Westbourne
More services for Westbourne
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
The survey, step by step
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Somewhere as small as Westbourne, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave a clear route to the loft
How to book
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Westbourne?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t match can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
The streets around a church such as St John the Baptist's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How long the report takes to arrive
What this survey cannot tell you
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Westbourne: your questions answered
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Westbourne, take more of a battering?
Frequently, yes. Within about 2 miles of the sea, as Westbourne is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Westbourne?
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.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Do you cover Westbourne for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and that includes Westbourne.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. From inside the loft space, we report what we can see of it.
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.