Greater London · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Highgate
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Highgate, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Debris building up in roof valleys
Do you need a roof survey in Highgate?
Slates and tiles often outlast the fixings that hold them. On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip, which is known as ‘nail fatigue’. On tiled roofs, battens and pegs can rot, letting tiles move.
People typically book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Loose chimney pots
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
If you let a flat or house near Upper Holloway station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
How a roof survey works in Highgate
We inspect what can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where conditions allow. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone, for roofs that are hard to see well. You don’t need to do anything except give us access. Each defect we find is photographed and explained. If you’ve noticed gutters that overflow in heavy rain and torn or sagging underlay, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. For a house in Highgate with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- Highgate (N6, N19, NW5)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Concrete interlocking tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They last well, but their surface erodes slowly, and they can crack.
Flat roof coverings
A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber around 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check its condition and the signs of age.
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. It typically takes between one and two hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. From the street, a London terrace usually shows only its front slope or parapet, so in Highgate we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- You let us know about the property and any concerns.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
For a price for roof surveys in Highgate, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Nearby places to Highgate
Other services in Highgate
FAQs for Highgate
How do I find out if my home in Highgate is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Are there drone restrictions around Highgate?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Can you tell me how long my roof will last?
Not as an exact number, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. What we do is explain the roof’s condition and what to deal with first.
How do I arrange a roof survey in Highgate?
It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll recommend the right survey. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How much is a survey?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on older buildings, we flag them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
What does a roof survey include?
Every part of the roof we can safely see: coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the loft. Higher packages add moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable.
Local roofs in Highgate
Witanhurst, about 0.4 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Highgate. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you look after a building such as St Michael's Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. For an older house near a landmark such as Highgate United Reformed Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Highgate is about 2 miles north-east of Hampstead, in Greater London. Surveys in Highgate work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Highgate is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work.
Here we cover the N6, N19 and NW5 postcode area for roof surveys. We cover properties on Wood Lane, Grange Road and Talbot Road. We also cover the places around Highgate: Upper Holloway (1 mile south-east), Dartmouth Park (1 mile south), Lissenden Gardens (1 mile south), Crouch End (1 mile north-east) and Tufnell Park (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include London (5 miles south-east), City of Westminster (4 miles south), Marylebone (4 miles south), Kensington (6 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles south) and Shoreditch (4 miles south-east).
Near you in Highgate
In Highgate, that means homes and buildings near The Angel Inn, St Aloysius RC College and Whittington Park. The nearest railway station is Upper Holloway station, about 0.9 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Highgate Private Hospital (0.6 miles north-west) and Montfichet's Tower (4.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Highgate include Darland's Lake and Parkland Walk.
What affects the price in Highgate
To price your survey, we check:
- The roof’s overall size
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Anything about access we should know
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.