Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
West Hill Roof Leak Investigation
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for West Hill, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Roof leak investigations for homes and businesses in West Hill
Older homes have more places for water to get in. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. A central valley gutter on a butterfly roof often turns out to be the source in heavy rain. Parapet walls and their gutters are checked from wherever it is safe. Our report shows what we found, with photos. We survey rooflights and dormers, the roof space and slate and tile slopes, and people most often book us about ceiling stains that grow after rain and damp underlay across a wide area.
In older homes around places like West Hill, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all. Without a sound underlay, any gap in the coverings lets water straight through. Whether it is long-term wear or recent damage makes a difference to what happens next. Wet battens and insulation in the loft are frequently the first clue.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Place
- West Hill (BN1, BN3, BN2)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Wind, rain and roofs in West Hill
The coast is about 1 mile or less from West Hill, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. In a coastal gale, rain is driven sideways into laps, verges and flashings, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. Royal Pavilion, about 0.6 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around West Hill. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For landlords with property near Brighton station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. Living close to St. Ann's Well Gardens is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
West Hill is about 1 mile west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. West Hill is one of many places we visit across Brighton and Hove. Across Brighton and Hove, we cover West Hill.
We cover every part of BN1, BN3 and BN2 for roof leak investigations. Whether your property is on Powis Road, North Road and York Avenue or a nearby road, we can survey it. Being close to the A2010, West Hill is simple for us to get to for roof leak investigations. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Seven Dials (1 mile north-west), Brunswick (1 mile south-west), Prestonville (1 mile north-west), Brighton (1 mile east) and Carlton Hill (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Hangleton (3 miles north-west), Saltdean (5 miles east), East Saltdean (5 miles east), Rottingdean (4 miles east) and Ovingdean (3 miles east). As one of the bigger places in Brighton and Hove, West Hill has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
What’s near West Hill
We work in homes and buildings around Brighton Girls, The Cow pub and Academy of Creative Training and the streets around them. West Hill has its own railway station: Brighton station. Other landmarks nearby include Churchill Square (0.5 miles south) and Montefiore Hospital (0.5 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Whitehawk Hill and Newmarket Hill.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in West Hill?
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Worn lead, cracked linings or a build-up of leaves and moss can push water under the slates or tiles. Leaks from valleys often show up some distance away inside.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
Shop and office owners around Churchill Square may find that a quick answer on where water is coming in keeps a business running.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How soon the report will arrive
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Honest limits
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to West Hill is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- Inside, we look at the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there’s safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Getting ready for the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Find any records of previous roof work
Booking a survey
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
What affects the price in West Hill
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How big the roof is
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What to tell us when you contact us
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- When you need the report by
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Places near West Hill
Other services in West Hill
FAQs for West Hill
Does a conservation area affect roof work in West Hill?
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.
Will you come out to West Hill?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How much is a survey?
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Why is not the leak directly above the stain?
Because water travels. It runs along rafters, battens or underlay before it drips, so the stain may be some distance from where it gets in. That is why we trace the route rather than patching above the stain.
How long does the visit take?
It normally takes about one to two hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Report times depend on the package.
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Let us know what has already been tried
- Tell us if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes one in person. It’s a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and catching wear early keeps water out.