City of London · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in City of London
An experienced roof surveyor for roof leak investigations in City of London. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Staining around the chimney inside
Roof leak investigation in City of London
Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they’re useful. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. A thermal camera shows patterns of temperature rather than water, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. If you’ve noticed ceiling stains that grow after rain and water that shows only in certain storms, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, slate and tile slopes and flat roof details alike.
Many London homes are well over a century old and their roofs have been patched more than once. Insurers usually exclude wear and tear, so it helps to know whether damage is old or new. A careful look in City of London tells the two apart where the evidence allows. Photographs and a written account give you something specific to show an insurer, a landlord or a roofer.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- City of London (EC4V, EC1A, EC2M, EC2Y)
- Wider area
- City of London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in City of London
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
What affects the price in City of London
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- How big the roof is
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- The address and postcode of the property
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Do not climb onto the roof to look
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
We email the report to you, with photographs of what we found. It explains the likely entry point, the route the water takes and our recommendations. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Look at the roof from ground level after strong winds. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
Questions from City of London
Is my home in City of London listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is City of London in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in City of London as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access as you book.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
It can, when the conditions are right. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, which can show up on the image. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
- Putting the leak right
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Roof leak investigations around City of London
Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, frequently with Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. Lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are typical of these houses, if yours is one of them. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. Historic houses like Mansion House, about 0.2 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around City of London goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near London Cannon Street station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away. If you live in an older home near St Olave Old Jewry, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney. Shop and office owners around Gabriel's Wharf may find that finding where water is getting in quickly keeps disruption down.
City of London is about 1 mile north of London. Anywhere in City of London, we can come and survey your property.
We survey roofs across EC4V, EC1A, EC2M and EC2Y for roof leak investigations and the streets around it. We cover properties on Aldermanbury Square, Monkwell Square and Paternoster Square and the roads around them. City of London is on the A1 and A3, so it’s easy for us to get to. If you’re just outside City of London, we cover Barbican Estate (1 mile north), Bishopsgate (1 mile east), Finsbury (1 mile north), Aldgate (1 mile east) and St Luke's (1 mile north).
Near you in City of London
Typical jobs here are in homes near St Mary-at-Hill, Prior Weston Primary School and Children's Centre and Golden Fleece pub, among other places. Also close by are Central Foundation Boys' School (0.8 miles north), Barts Health Archives (under half a mile north-west) and St Alphage Garden (under half a mile north). City of London has its own railway station: London Cannon Street station. Other landmarks nearby include Gabriel's Wharf (0.8 miles south-west) and London Mithraeum (within half a mile south). Green spaces nearby include St. James's Park Lake and Barnsbury Wood.
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Places near City of London
Other services in City of London
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It normally takes between one and two hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. For a visit in City of London, parking and access are the things to plan: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. We then look at what can safely be seen from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the roof space, we trace the water’s route where there is safe access.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from every safe vantage point.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Tell us about parking before the day
Getting a price
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.