Hampshire · London and the South East
Westley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Westley, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Westley?
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. That kind of wear is common on older roofs.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Landlords with a home close to Winchester station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before you book
- What experience they bring
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Are they insured for the work?
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Westley
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is frequently not the individual flat owner. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. We’re often asked to look into lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and gutters choked with leaves and moss, across lead flashings and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate.
Somewhere as small as Westley, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. 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. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Westley (SO21)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Westley
Will you come out to Westley?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in Westley listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain doesn’t normally stop a survey. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it is safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Westley
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
The survey, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit typically 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 roofs in small places like Westley can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
What we can’t see
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Nearby places to Westley
Other services in Westley
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their 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, and we cannot promise any result.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Westley homes and their roofs
Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Stephen, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Westley is about 4 miles north-west of Winchester, in Hampshire. Bookings from Westley are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Westley is one of the towns and villages in Hampshire we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Southampton.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in SO21 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Hillside Road, Library Lane and Chute Hill. We also cover the places around Westley: Sparsholt (1 mile south-east), Littleton (2 miles east), Harestock (3 miles east), Weeke (3 miles east) and Oliver's Battery (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (4 miles south-east), Eastleigh (8 miles south), Andover (9 miles north-west), Totton (13 miles south-west), Chandler's Ford (7 miles south) and Hedge End (12 miles south).
Landmarks near Westley
We work in homes and buildings around The Plough Inn and the streets around them. Westley’s nearest station is Winchester station, about 3.4 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Winchester Castle (3.5 miles south-east) and Balfour Museum of Hampshire Red Cross History (2.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Westley include Winnall Moors.