Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Herne Hill, Greater London
Tracing where water is getting into your roof around Herne Hill, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
- Condensation that looks like a leak
About our roof leak investigation in Herne Hill
Not every drip is a leak. In a badly ventilated roof space, condensation can form under the roof and drip, leaving marks that look just like rainwater. Telling the two apart matters, since the cure for one won’t solve the other. We look at the pattern of damp, the weather and the ventilation before reaching a view. We’re often asked to look into wet patches on loft insulation and wet patches high on an inside wall, across valleys and parapet gutters, rooflights and dormers and the roof space.
Water getting into a London home frequently 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. Whether you are tracing a leak or recording storm damage in Herne Hill, 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.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Herne Hill (SE22, SW2, SE24)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey usually takes an hour or two, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. In a London area like Herne Hill, the main things to sort out are parking and access: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space, which floor the property is on and how to get into the loft. We then look at what can be seen safely from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it is safe, the roof itself.
- We help you choose the package that suits the leak.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Where it is useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
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Common questions in Herne Hill
Is parking a problem for a survey in Herne Hill?
It depends on the street. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well, and a driveway is even better.
Do you cover Herne Hill?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and Herne Hill is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Will you fix the leak as part of this?
The investigation is about finding the cause. The repair isn’t part of it. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Keep a note of when it leaks. Move stored items away from the loft hatch. Keep away from any light or socket that water is reaching.
For landlords and managing agents
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Herne Hill roofs and the weather
Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. If your home in Herne Hill is one of them, lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are part of the picture too. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from. About 1.7 miles south lies Kingswood House, a reminder of how long the area around Herne Hill has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often 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.
Homes near green spaces like Belair Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. Take an older house close to Saint Faith's: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Herne Hill is about 3 miles south of London, in Greater London. Wherever you are in Herne Hill, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Herne Hill is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work for roof leak investigations.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: SE22, SW2 and SE24. Whether your property is on Jelf Road, Dewey Lane and Talma Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Being close to the A204 and A2214, Herne Hill is easy for us to reach. We also cover the places around Herne Hill: Dulwich Village (1 mile south-east), East Dulwich (1 mile north-east), Dulwich (1 mile south-east), Denmark Hill (1 mile north) and Camberwell (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns such as London (3 miles north), City of Westminster (5 miles north-west), Marylebone (5 miles north-west), Kensington (6 miles north-west), St Pancras (5 miles north) and Shoreditch (5 miles north).
Around Herne Hill
We work in homes and buildings around The Charter School, Half Moon pub and Belair Park. Herne Hill has its own railway station: North Dulwich station. Nearby you will also find Surrey Quays Shopping Centre (3.5 miles north-east) and House of Dreams Museum (0.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Herne Hill include Battersea Park Lake and Knight's Hill.
When to book a survey in Herne Hill
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Split linings, slipped valley tiles or debris can send that water under the coverings. The stain may appear well away from the valley itself.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
If you look after a building like Judith Kerr Primary School, tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Before booking anyone
- Their report turnaround times
- What exactly goes into their report
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Are they insured for the work?
Prices for roof leak investigations in Herne Hill
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. It’s useful to include:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- What made you get in touch
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Also near Herne Hill
Also in Herne Hill
Leave it or get it looked at?
Water and electrics don’t mix. If water is reaching a light fitting or switch, keep clear of it and have an electrician check it. Then the source needs tracing. Blocked gutters and hoppers on London houses overflow and soak brickwork, which can lead to damp inside. A small blockage left for a few winters becomes a damp problem.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book us in Herne Hill
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Package prices that include VAT
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Some roofs have mortar where you’d expect lead. They crack as the roof and wall move, letting rain run behind the joint.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual inspection of the stack, and it is not a flue or gas safety check.