Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Wickham Common
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Wickham Common.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Wickham Common
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company. We check as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. We survey gutters and downpipes, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and people most frequently book us about loose pots and cracked flaunching and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof.
Some older homes in villages like Wickham Common are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Wickham Common (PO17)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
What happens on the day
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take an hour or two 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 Wickham Common can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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 is safe.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Wickham Common
Wickham Common lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, so exposed details get a careful look whether you are buying or signing off new work. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Nicholas, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Wickham Common is about 3 miles north-east of Fareham, in Hampshire. Roofs in Wickham Common get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Hampshire. Our area takes in places right across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO17. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Southwick Road, Castle Farm Lane and Black Cottage Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Crockerhill (1 mile south-west), Hundred Acres (1 mile north-east), Welborne (1 mile south-west), North Boarhunt (1 mile east) and North Fareham (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (13 miles north-west), Gosport (6 miles south), Havant (8 miles east), Eastleigh (9 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles south-west) and Horndean (7 miles east).
Around Wickham Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Old House Hotel, among other places. The nearest railway station is Fareham station, roughly 2.8 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Knowle Hospital (1.6 miles south-west) and Fareham Shopping Centre (2.6 miles south). Open spaces near Wickham Common include St Clair's Meadow and Portsdown Hill.
FAQs for Wickham Common
How do I find out if my home in Wickham Common is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Wickham Common, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Wickham Common is within about 4 miles of the coast.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
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.
Places near Wickham Common
Other services in Wickham Common
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The roof’s overall size
- Which survey package you book
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Helping us price your survey
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where the property is, with the postcode
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Wickham Common?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can be signs that something has leaked before. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Landlords with a home close to Fareham station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before booking anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from the ground are enough for a first look.
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys