East Sussex · London and the South East
South Chailey Roof Leak Investigation
Not sure what state the leaking roof is in? We carry out roof leak investigations in South Chailey and across East Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Stains around a skylight
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Roof leak investigation in South Chailey: what you get
Our job is to find the likely source and tell you. The report shows, with photos, where we believe the water gets in and how it travels, plus recommendations on what needs attention. Whoever does the work then has a clear starting point. We find and report the source, and the repair itself is a separate job. If you are worried about wet patches on loft insulation and damp walls below an overflowing gutter, we can find out what’s behind it.
Being in a small place like South Chailey makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: the journey and access are just planned in advance. Tell us where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, along with any repairs done before. If you have photos of the water coming in, they help as well.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Place
- South Chailey (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
South Chailey questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in South Chailey?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is South Chailey in the area you cover?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and South Chailey is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details.
How much is a survey?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the exact price before booking, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Is the repair included in the leak investigation?
A leak investigation finds and reports the likely source. The repair itself is a separate job. The report shows where the water gets in and what should be done.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report.
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in South Chailey
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Old bitumen felt may cope for a while, but it tears and sags with age, and very old roofs may have no underlay at all. On slate roofs, slipping is frequently caused by corroded nails.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
Take a building like Chailey School: a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Leaks and storm damage in South Chailey
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. Anne of Cleves House, about 5 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around South Chailey. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
If you own a rental within reach of Plumpton station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over.
South Chailey is about 4 miles north of Lewes, in East Sussex. Bookings from South Chailey are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across East Sussex, we cover South Chailey and the places around it. There is also a page for Brighton.
Here we cover the BN8 postcode area for roof leak investigations. Whether your property is on Mill Brooks, Whitegates Close and Brickyard Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around South Chailey: South Street (1 mile north), Chiltington (1 mile south), Chailey (2 miles north-east), East Chiltington (2 miles south-west) and Plumpton Green (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Seaford (13 miles south-east), Lewes (4 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (11 miles north-east), Uckfield (6 miles east) and Newhaven (11 miles south).
Around South Chailey
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Swan Public House and the streets around them. South Chailey’s nearest station is Plumpton station, roughly 1.7 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Lewes Castle (4.8 miles south) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (4.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Blackcap and Malling Down.
Places near South Chailey
Other services in South Chailey
Roof by roof
Parapet and box gutters
Parapet and box gutters sit behind walls or inside the roof. When their outlets block, water rises over the lining and runs indoors.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joints at chimneys, walls and dormers. Lifted, split or slipped lead is a common cause.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Wet insulation does not insulate well. Insulation can soak up water quietly before anything shows below. Catching it early limits what has to be replaced. Older cottages and farmhouses around South Chailey can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent view of the roof
- Photos and a written report every time
- 20+ years’ experience
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
What happens on the day
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around South Chailey can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.