Greater London · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Hampstead
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for Hampstead, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp patches next to the stack
About our roof leak investigation in Hampstead
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Common entry points include chimney and wall flashings, valleys, parapet and box gutters, and the upstands and outlets on flat roofs. Each of these is checked in turn and we follow where the evidence leads. Every chimney, dormer and roof light adds more joints to check. We look at all of them, from each safe vantage point. If you’re worried about leaks below a flat extension roof and wet patches on loft insulation, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on lead flashings, slate and tile slopes and valleys and parapet gutters alike.
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. For a leak or storm damage in Hampstead, 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.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- Hampstead (NW3, NW6, NW11, N2)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Surveys in Hampstead can be booked for any day of the week. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- You get in touch with details of the leak and any photos.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the loft space above it.
- Likely entry points outside are looked at, from flashings and valleys to gutters and outlets.
- We use moisture detection, and thermal imaging where it’s useful.
- We email a report with photographs, the likely entry point and recommendations.
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
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hampstead
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Hampstead. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Nearby places to Hampstead
Also in Hampstead
FAQs for Hampstead
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Hampstead?
Sometimes, yes. If Hampstead has controlled parking where you are, a visitor permit is the easiest answer.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Hampstead?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and Hampstead is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Why does not the damp patch line up with the hole?
Water follows the easiest path, not the shortest. On a pitched roof it often runs down a rafter before it finds a way through the ceiling. Following that route is what our investigation does.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
What a roof leak investigation doesn’t cover
It is a careful look at the leaking roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than 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 our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Rooflights and dormers
- Flat roof details
- Slate and tile slopes
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
Checking the roof from ground level
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book.
Useful tips for Hampstead property owners
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Tell us about any past repairs to the roof
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Tell us if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
If there are several possible sources, we list them in order of likelihood. Recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant, so you know what to deal with first.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Take photos of anything that changes.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Hampstead
About 0.4 miles north lies Fenton House, a reminder of how long the area around Hampstead has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. 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.
Homes near green spaces such as Kilburn Grange Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near O2 Centre, a leak can close part of a shop or office, so finding the cause quickly matters.
Hampstead is about 3 miles north-west of City of Westminster, in Greater London. Hampstead is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Hampstead is one of the towns and villages in Greater London we cover.
Surveys in NW3, NW6, NW11 and N2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Hampstead High Street, New End Square and The Mount Square, and we cover them all. You will find Hampstead on the A1 and A502, so it is easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Greenhill (1 mile north-east), West Hampstead (1 mile west), Fortune Green (1 mile west), Vale of Health (1 mile north) and South Hampstead (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include London (5 miles south-east), City of Westminster (3 miles south-east), Marylebone (3 miles south-east), Kensington (4 miles south), St Pancras (3 miles south-east) and Shoreditch (5 miles south-east). Hampstead is one of the larger places we cover in Greater London.
Local landmarks in Hampstead
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to South Hampstead High School, Kilburn Grange Park and St Anthony's Preparatory School. Other local landmarks include King William IV Public House (less than half a mile north-east) and Cecil Sharp House (1.7 miles south-east). Hampstead has its own railway station: Finchley Road & Frognal station. Nearby you’ll also find Isokon Gallery (0.8 miles east) and New End Hospital (within half a mile north). For a walk, there is Belsize Wood and The Long Water.
Common roof problems in Hampstead
A chimney stack has lots of places for rain to get in. Water can enter through crumbling mortar, cracked flaunching, worn flashings or uncapped pots. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the loft space.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
If you live in an older home near St John-at-Hampstead church, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their report turnaround times
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA