Greater London · London and the South East
Farthing Street Roof Leak Investigation
An experienced roof surveyor for roof leak investigations in Farthing Street. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
Roof leak investigation in Farthing Street: what you get
On older houses, leaks often start at lead work and hidden gutters. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. If your home has a butterfly roof, the central valley gutter is a common culprit in heavy rain. Parapet walls and their gutters are looked at from wherever it’s safe. Our report shows what we found, with photos. If you are worried about damp underlay across a wide area and leaks at a dormer or roof window, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In London, leaks often start somewhere hidden: a butterfly roof’s central valley gutter, a parapet gutter, a chimney flashing or a flat roof over a back addition. Whether you’re tracing a leak or recording storm damage in Farthing Street, those are among the first places to look. Water from a hidden gutter can run along joists and show up a room or two away.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the leaking roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Farthing Street (BR6)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Farthing Street
With Down House about 1 mile south, Farthing Street sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it’s detailed.
Anyone responsible for a site like Downe Primary School will know that on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain. If you live near a park such as South Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. If you live in an older home near St Mary's Church, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney.
Farthing Street is about 4 miles south-west of Orpington, in Greater London. Farthing Street is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for homes and businesses alike. Farthing Street is one of the places in Greater London we cover. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We cover every part of BR6 for roof leak investigations and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Farthing Street, New Road Hill and Orange Court Lane. We also cover the places around Farthing Street: Downe (1 mile south-east), Leaves Green (1 mile south-west), Hazelwood (1 mile south-east), Keston (1 mile north-west) and Farnborough (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (12 miles north-west), City of Westminster (15 miles north-west), Marylebone (15 miles north-west), Kensington (15 miles north-west), St Pancras (14 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (14 miles north-west).
Around Farthing Street
In Farthing Street, that means homes and buildings near Darrick Wood School, South Park and The Queens Head pub. The closest station to Farthing Street is Orpington station, about 2.6 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Princess Royal University Hospital (1.4 miles north) and Crofton Roman Villa (2.5 miles north-east). Open spaces near Farthing Street include Betsom's Hill and West Kent Golf Course nature reserve.
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes between one and two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a London conversion, the way into the loft space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. If that applies to your building, it is useful to agree access with the neighbours or the managing agent first. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- 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.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Before the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
With the Standard Survey you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes one in person. It is a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Look at the roof from ground level after strong winds. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Prompt repairs stop gaps turning into leaks.
Nearby places to Farthing Street
What else we do in Farthing Street
What happens if roof problems are left?
Damp in a ceiling or loft can lead to mould. It is unpleasant, and it is harder to deal with once established. Stopping the water is the first step. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Finding it early keeps the work smaller.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
Why book us in Farthing Street
- An independent view of the roof
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 98% customer satisfaction
FAQs for Farthing Street
Is parking a problem for a survey in Farthing Street?
It depends on the street. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well.
Do you cover Farthing Street?
Yes, Farthing Street is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Farthing Street as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
We use thermal imaging where it helps, and it’s included in our Premium Survey. It picks up temperature patterns rather than water, so we confirm its findings with moisture readings.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Can you find a leak when it is not raining?
Often, yes. Stains, tide marks, damp timbers and moisture readings normally point the way. Some leaks only show in particular weather, so photos and notes from when it leaks help a lot.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Note when the leak appears and what the weather was doing. Clear access to the loft. If water is near any fittings, have an electrician check them.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
- Putting the leak right
- Plumbing leaks that look like roof leaks
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Flat roof details
- Chimney stacks
- Rooflights and dormers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Slate and tile slopes
How we price roof leak investigations
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Booking your survey
We’ll usually ask about:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Farthing Street
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.