Hampshire · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Winchester
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Winchester, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Pre-purchase roof survey in Winchester: what you get
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you’re tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the loft space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey natural slate, the roof space and gutters and downpipes, and common reasons people get in touch are blistered or split felt on a flat roof and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone.
A place the size of Winchester has homes of every age, from period houses to post-war estates, flats and new-build streets. A roof on a Victorian house fails in different ways from one on a 1960s semi or a new build. That is why the age and type of roof shape what the inspection concentrates on, for a purchase or a new roof alike.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- Winchester (SO22, SO23, SO32, SO21)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- 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
What happens on the day
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. 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 for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Town-centre streets in Winchester can mean pay-and-display or permit parking, so a word about where to park saves time. Inside, the loft and any room with a stain are the places we’ll want to see. Outside, the roof is viewed from every point that’s safe.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
When to book a survey in Winchester
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. Felt flat roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near St Swithun-upon-Kingsgate Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- Their report turnaround times
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What happens after the report arrives
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
We confirm the price for your roof before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Helping us price your survey
We’ll typically ask about:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Winchester: local notes
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
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.
Winchester is in Hampshire. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Winchester and the surrounding area. We cover towns and villages across Hampshire. Southampton is in our area too.
We work across the SO22, SO23, SO32 and SO21 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on The Square, Market Street and Market Lane and the roads around them. With the A31 and A32 close by, Winchester is simple for us to get to. Close by, we survey roofs in Bar End (1 mile south-east), Highcliffe (1 mile east), Hyde (1 mile north), St Cross (1 mile south) and Stanmore (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Eastleigh (6 miles south), Fareham (15 miles south), Andover (13 miles north-west), Totton (13 miles south-west), Chandler's Ford (6 miles south-west) and Hedge End (10 miles south). Being one of Hampshire’s larger places, Winchester has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Local landmarks in Winchester
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Peter Symonds College, The Green Man pub and Leigh House Hospital. The closest station to Winchester is Winchester station, roughly 0.6 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Winchester City Museum (under half a mile north-east) and St John's Rooms And Chapel (under half a mile east). The countryside around Winchester includes Winnall Moors and Twyford Down.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
What happens if roof problems are left?
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on weekdays and at weekends, and a Premium report comes the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. In flats, shops and offices in Winchester, a roof leak can reach more than one floor before it shows, soaking insulation, ceilings and whatever is below. Catching it early keeps the damage down.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- Plain-English reports with photos
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- PI and public liability insurance
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Winchester
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Winchester
Is Winchester in the area you cover?
Yes, Winchester is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Winchester?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
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, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.