Greater London · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Southborough, Greater London
Not sure what state the leaking roof is in? We carry out roof leak investigations in Southborough and across Greater London.
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Stains around a skylight
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
Roof leak investigation in Southborough: what you get
Our job is to find the likely source and tell you. You get a written report with photos showing the likely entry point and the route the water is taking, plus recommendations on what needs attention. It gives any roofer a clear brief. We find and report the source, while the repair is a separate matter. Typical surveys look at staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall and damp patches next to the stack, on the roof space, slate and tile slopes and rooflights and dormers.
In a London flat, water can travel some way before it shows, sometimes in a different flat from the one below the defect. That makes the source hard to pin down, and finding it matters for whoever has to deal with it. We look at what we are given access to in Southborough, inside and out. Let us know when the water shows, and in what kind of weather.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Where
- Southborough (BR2, BR1)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about one to two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so a visit in Southborough moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Tell us who holds the keys.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- Inside, we check the damp area and the roof space above it.
- Outside, we look at every likely route in.
- Where it helps, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You receive a written report with photos showing the likely source and what needs attention.
Preparing for the visit
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Also near Southborough
Also in Southborough
Why it is worth a survey now in Southborough
Lingering damp encourages mould on ceilings and walls. Once mould takes hold, it is harder to clear. Finding the leak comes first. Behind a London parapet, a blocked gutter can sit full of water without anyone seeing it. When the stain finally shows, the damage underneath is often older than it looks.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
What you get with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- A written report with photos
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Some roofs have mortar where you’d expect lead. They crack as the roof and wall move, and water runs down behind them.
Slate and tile slopes
Cracked mortar lets ridge and hip tiles move. Rain can then run in at the ridge.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Southborough
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Common roof problems in Southborough
Valleys carry a lot of water. Split linings, slipped valley tiles or debris can push water under the slates or tiles. The stain may appear well away from the valley itself.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Stains around a skylight
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
If you live near a park like Jubilee Country Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Questions to ask before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their report turnaround times
- Which limits apply to the survey
Southborough roofs and the weather
Alongside Victorian and Edwardian terraces, outer London has a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs of clay or concrete tiles. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from. The wider area around Southborough has a long history of building, with Bromley Palace about 1.4 miles north-west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to St Augustine's Church: old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. If you let a flat or house near Bickley station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Southborough is about 2 miles south-east of Bromley, in Greater London. Southborough gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Across Greater London, we cover Southborough and the places around it. You can also see our page for London.
We work across BR2 and BR1 for roof leak investigations and the streets around it. Local streets include Pope Road, Crown Lane and Union Road. If you are just outside Southborough, we cover Bromley Common (1 mile south-west), Petts Wood (1 mile east), Locksbottom (2 miles south-east), Shortlands (2 miles west) and Crofton (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include London (10 miles north-west), City of Westminster (12 miles north-west), Marylebone (12 miles north-west), Kensington (13 miles north-west), St Pancras (12 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (11 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Southborough
We work in homes and buildings around Bishop Justus CofE School, Jubilee Country Park and The Chequers Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Bickley station, about 0.7 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Bethlem Museum of the Mind (0.9 miles south-west) and Bridgeways Day Hospital (under half a mile south). For a walk, there is Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
Prices for roof leak investigations in Southborough
To price your survey, we look at:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Roof area
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Southborough questions
Is parking a problem for a survey in Southborough?
It can be, so it is useful to let us know about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when you book. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Southborough?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Does the investigation include the repair?
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, which whoever carries out the work can follow.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Does the report include photos?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.