Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Custom House, Greater London
Independent roof leak investigations in Custom House. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
Roof leak investigation in Custom House
Water is good at hiding where it gets in. Water often travels along timbers or underlay before it finds a way down, so a ceiling stain is rarely directly below the cause. We follow it back towards where it starts, one likely route at a time. Patching the spot above the stain often misses the real cause. Finding the route first lets the repair go where it’s needed. If you’ve noticed water through the ceiling under a flat roof and ceiling stains that grow after rain, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Water getting into a London home often comes from a detail you cannot see from the street: a butterfly roof’s central valley gutter, a parapet gutter, a chimney flashing or a flat roof over a back addition. For a leak or storm damage in Custom House, those hidden details are where the inspection begins. Water from a hidden gutter can run along joists and show up a room or two away.
Where we cannot see part of the leaking roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Custom House (E16, E13)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Custom House
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
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.
What we do, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey normally takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Surveys in Custom House can be booked for any day of the week. London parking is often by permit or pay-and-display, so it’s useful to know what’s near you. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Leave side gates unlocked
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Custom House?
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Ageing felt underlay eventually tears and lets water through, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. On slate roofs, slipping is often caused by corroded nails.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Wet patches on loft insulation
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
If you let a flat or house near Custom House station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over.
What to check before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Will the report include photos?
- How soon the report will arrive
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot 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.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Roof leak investigations around Custom House
Historic houses such as Queen's House, about 2.3 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Custom House goes. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have 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. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
Anyone responsible for a site like St Joachim's Catholic Primary School will know that water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. Living close to Thames Barrier Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Custom House is about 1 mile south of Canning Town, in Greater London. Custom House gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at what can safely be seen, photos and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small.
Here we cover the E16 and E13 postcode area for roof leak investigations. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on Tree Road, Ethel Road and Booth Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Main roads around Custom House include the A1020. We also cover West Silvertown (1 mile south-west), Silvertown (1 mile south), Canning Town (1 mile north), Royal Docks (1 mile east) and Limmo Peninsula (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (5 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Near you in Custom House
In Custom House, that means homes and buildings near Thames Barrier Park, The Royal Docks Community School and Royal Docks Academy, among other places. Custom House has its own railway station: Custom House station. Other landmarks nearby include Gallions Reach Shopping Park (2.2 miles east) and Charlton Athletic Museum (1.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Gilbert's Pit and Tower Hill.
Custom House: your questions answered
Is Custom House in the area you cover?
Yes, Custom House is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Custom House?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
How do I arrange a roof leak investigation in Custom House?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and some details about the roof. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Is the repair included in the leak investigation?
This service finds and reports the cause, not to carry out the repair. The report gives any roofer a clear brief.
Why act early in Custom House
A leak rarely stays small. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Finding the source early keeps the damage down. Behind a London parapet, a blocked gutter can sit full of water without anyone seeing it. By the time a ceiling stains, the timbers underneath may have been wet for a while.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Custom House
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Prices that include VAT
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Prices for roof leak investigations in Custom House
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Height and safe access
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Roof area
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- When you need the report by
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.