Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Lee, Greater London
Tracing where water is getting into your roof around Lee, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
Roof leak investigation in Lee
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture detection confirms where timbers, plaster or insulation are damp. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences that can point to wet areas, not water itself, so its findings are checked with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. The best thermal results come after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We survey rooflights and dormers, flat roof details and slate and tile slopes, and people most often book us about damp ceilings under a flat roof and ceiling stains that grow after rain.
In a London flat, water can travel some way before it shows. That makes the source hard to pin down, and finding it matters for whoever has to deal with it. We check what we’re given access to in Lee, inside and out. Let us know when the water shows, and in what kind of weather.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Lee (SE12, SE13, SE3)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- A structural engineer’s report
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
Roof leak investigations around Lee
Historic houses like Eltham Palace, about 1.7 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Lee goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. If your home in Lee is one of them, lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are part of the picture too. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in.
Shop and office owners around Lewisham Shopping Centre may find that finding where water is getting in quickly keeps disruption down. Homes near green spaces such as Manor House Gardens can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Lee is about 2 miles south of Greenwich, in Greater London. Anywhere in Lee, we can carry out roof leak investigations at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small. There’s also a page for London.
Every address in SE12, SE13 and SE3 is covered for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Old Road, Manor Lane and Mallet Road and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Hither Green (1 mile west), Horn Park (1 mile south-east), Lewisham (1 mile north-west), Ladywell (1 mile west) and Blackheath (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns such as London (6 miles north-west), City of Westminster (8 miles north-west), Marylebone (8 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (7 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Lee
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Manor House Gardens, Trinity Church of England School and International Academy of Greenwich, among other places. Lee has its own railway station: Lee station. A little further out are Lewisham Shopping Centre (1.1 miles north-west) and Prefab Museum (1.3 miles south). For a walk, there’s Summer Hill and Birdbrook Road Nature Reserve.
Common roof problems in Lee
A chimney stack has plenty of places for rain to get in. Water can enter through crumbling mortar, cracked flaunching, worn flashings or uncapped pots. The damp may appear on a chimney breast, a ceiling or in the loft.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Anyone responsible for a site like Brindishe Lee 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.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What happens after the report arrives
Can I check my roof myself?
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.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Wherever a roof meets a wall or stack, a flashing keeps rain out. Lifted, split or slipped lead is a common cause, and for flashings that have been patched with bitumen.
Parapet and box gutters
Hidden gutters run behind parapets or between roofs. When their outlets block, water rises over the lining and runs indoors.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Lee
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Landlords and agents in Lee book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the leaking roof, with photos.
The survey, step by step
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about one to two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. In converted houses and mansion blocks, the loft hatch is frequently on a shared landing. Where that is the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Otherwise, the visit in Lee runs like any other.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Lee
Other services in Lee
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Lee
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Lee?
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, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Lee?
Usually it is manageable with a little notice. Let us know the parking rules on your street and we’ll work around them.
How do you tell a leak from condensation?
Many apparent leaks turn out to be condensation. A leak typically shows in one area and follows rain, while condensation is often widespread and worst on cold days. We tell you which it is most likely to be.
Can you find a leak when it is not raining?
In most cases, yes. Moisture detection shows where materials are damp even on a dry day. For leaks that only happen in certain storms, we report the most likely routes.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Do you look in the roof space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.