West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Charlton, West Sussex
Get a clear view of the leaking roof at a property in Charlton from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Condensation that looks like a leak
About our roof leak investigation in Charlton
Roof leaks rarely show up where you’d expect. It can run along a rafter, a batten or the underlay before it drips, so a ceiling stain is rarely directly below the cause. We follow it back towards where it starts. Patching the spot above the stain often misses the real cause. Finding the route first lets the repair go where it’s needed. Common reasons to book are staining around the chimney inside and wet patches high on an inside wall, across lead flashings, the roof space and slate and tile slopes.
Somewhere as small as Charlton, older roofs have often been repaired many times. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, which matters if you’re thinking of an insurance claim. We check whatever is safely visible and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Charlton (PO18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Charlton
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Charlton
Do you cover Charlton?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and Charlton is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the property.
Do you cover smaller places like Charlton?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
Thermal imaging is used where it’s useful, and it is part of the Premium Survey. It shows temperature differences, not water itself, so anything it suggests is checked with moisture readings.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Flat roof water can travel under the covering before it shows. Moisture readings and thermal imaging can help narrow it down where conditions suit.
Valleys
Debris in a valley slows the water and pushes it sideways. In heavy rain, it can spill under the edges of the slates or tiles.
Tips that help
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Don’t touch fittings that water is reaching
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Note the weather when the leak shows
With the Standard Survey you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes one in person. You can ask us about anything that isn’t clear.
After a downpour, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Take photos of anything that changes.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
The survey, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. In a hamlet or village like Charlton, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- We check the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- Outside, we look at every likely route in.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You receive a written report with photos showing the likely source and what needs attention.
Getting ready for the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
To get a price for roof leak investigations in Charlton, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
Towns and villages near Charlton
More services for Charlton
Roof leak investigations in Charlton: local notes
Historic houses like West Dean House, about 1.7 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Charlton goes. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts.
If you look after a building such as Singleton CofE Primary School, water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot.
Charlton is about 5 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Charlton is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Our West Sussex coverage includes Charlton and the places around it. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the PO18 postcode area for roof leak investigations. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Charlton Road and Knight's Hill or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Singleton (1 mile west), East Dean (1 mile east), West Dean (2 miles west), Cocking (3 miles north) and Heyshott (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (9 miles south), Chichester (5 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles south-east), Emsworth (10 miles south-west) and Rustington (12 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Charlton
Nearby you’ll also find Chichester Centre (4.6 miles south) and Weald and Downland Gridshell (0.8 miles west). Not far away are Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Common roof problems in Charlton
A chimney stack has a good many places for rain to get in. Eroded pointing, cracked flaunching, failed flashings and open pots can all be responsible. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the roof space.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary: the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How soon the report will arrive