Hampshire · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in New Forest
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for New Forest and the rest of Hampshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Stains around a skylight
Roof leak investigation in New Forest: what you get
Leaks tend to begin where one part of a roof meets another. Common entry points include chimney and wall flashings, valleys, parapet and box gutters, and the upstands and outlets on flat roofs. We check each likely route and follow the evidence. Every chimney, dormer and roof light adds more joints to check. We check all of them, from each safe vantage point. We survey flat roof details, the roof space and lead flashings, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are wet patches high on an inside wall and damp underlay across a wide area.
Many homes in small places like New Forest face open ground, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- New Forest (SP6)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Mention any plumbing above the damp area
- Make sure the loft is accessible
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, so the repair is aimed at the cause.
Look at the roof from ground level after strong winds. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Prompt repairs stop gaps turning into leaks.
Leaks and storm damage in New Forest
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in.
Whatever the street in New Forest, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
New Forest is in Hampshire. Bookings from New Forest are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. New Forest is one of the towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Southampton page.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: SP6. You’ll find streets such as Sillens Lane and Townsend Lane, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Martin (1 mile north-east), Rockbourne (3 miles east) and Damerham (3 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Ringwood (11 miles south-east), Fordingbridge (6 miles south-east), St Leonards (11 miles south), Alderholt (6 miles south-east), Poulner (11 miles south-east) and Ashley Heath (10 miles south).
What’s near New Forest
Other landmarks nearby include Cranborne Castle Hill (4.4 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Western Downs.
Landlord and commercial surveys in New Forest
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 when budgeting.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Why get it checked now?
Damp in a ceiling or loft can lead to mould. Once mould takes hold, it’s harder to clear. Stopping the water is the first step. Older and listed buildings around New Forest may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why us?
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- 20+ years’ experience
- 98% of customers satisfied
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
New Forest: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in New Forest is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover smaller places like New Forest?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Why does not the damp patch line up with the hole?
Rain that gets in will run along whatever it lands on. On a pitched roof it often runs down a rafter before it shows. Following that route is what our investigation does.
Can a leak be traced on a dry day?
In many cases, 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.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
What does the report include?
A written report with photographs, explaining the condition of the leaking roof, any defects and our recommendations, with the most urgent first where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
What we do, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Rural addresses near New Forest can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- 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.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
What affects the price in New Forest
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Helping us price your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The property’s address and postcode
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in New Forest
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. The damp may appear on a chimney breast, a ceiling or in the loft.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Stains around a skylight
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Condensation that looks like a leak
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- When you’ll get the report