East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Rye
Roof surveys in Rye from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
Your questions about roof surveys in Rye
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Rye, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Rye is within about 2 miles of the coast.
I let a flat near Rye station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you need, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Our report notes any materials that might, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
What’s covered in a roof inspection?
All the main parts of the roof: coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys, gutters and the loft. Higher packages add moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
Roof survey in Rye: what you get
Our report is written in plain English, not jargon. Every issue comes with photos and a written recommendation, and where it’s relevant we say what’s urgent and what can wait. With the Standard Survey you also get moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and a same-day report. Each report is emailed to you. If you are worried about standing water on a flat roof and lifted, split or missing lead flashings, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and flat roofs alike.
In a smaller place like Rye, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Rye (TN31)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roof coverings
Standing water, blisters and splits all point to wear. We also look at the edges, upstands and outlets.
Chimney stacks
We check the stack itself, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We’ll tell you if the flue needs a specialist.
More services for Rye
Local roofs in Rye
Rye is within about 2 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Lamb House lies about 0.1 miles south-east, so building around Rye goes back a long way. If your house is among the older ones, the roof may have been repaired many times, and the survey records how each part is holding up. Living close to Rye Harbour LNR is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Rye is about 9 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. Whether the building in Rye is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof surveys: TN31. Streets in the area include Market Road, High Street and Market Street, all of which we cover. You’ll find Rye on the A259 and A268, which makes it straightforward to reach. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Playden (1 mile north), East Guldeford (1 mile north-east), Rye Harbour (1 mile south-east), Houghton Green (1 mile north) and Rye Foreign (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Hastings (9 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-west), St Leonards (10 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (9 miles south-west), Belmont (9 miles south-west) and Hollington (10 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Rye
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Anthony of Padua Church, Rye Harbour LNR and The Old Bell Inn, among other places. Rye has its own railway station: Rye station. Nearby you’ll also find Ypres Tower (less than half a mile east) and Rye Castle Museum (East Street) (less than half a mile east). For a walk, there’s Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Flat roofs
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
What happens on the day
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. A visit to Rye is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed in advance. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- You let us know about the property and any concerns.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The roof is inspected from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Every part of the roof is checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Related advice
How we price roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Roof area
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
What to tell us when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Why it is worth a survey now in Rye
Roof faults rarely stay the same size. One slipped slate lets water reach the battens and underlay, and damp timber slowly weakens. Finding it early keeps the work smaller. Homes in smaller places like Rye can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further, and water follows.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Rye
- Surveys seven days a week
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Every finding written up with photos
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.