Greater London · London and the South East
Roof survey in Shortlands, Greater London
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Shortlands from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Debris building up in roof valleys
How a roof survey works in Shortlands
Our roof survey gives you a clear picture of your roof’s condition. Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all checked, and the roof space where there’s safe access. The report sets out what we found, with photos and recommendations. Where it is relevant, the recommendations are prioritised by urgency. We survey the roof space, lead flashings and flat roofs, and people most often book us about loose chimney pots and flashings that have come away from the wall.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, where the roof is normally a shared part of the building. Landlords, managing agents and residents’ companies need to know what condition it is in and what work is coming up. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photographs.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Shortlands (BR2, BR1, BR3)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- The condition of the rest of the building (that is a RICS home survey)
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Chimney stacks
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat roofs
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
Nearby places to Shortlands
Also in Shortlands
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes about one to two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Shortlands moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, tell us who can let us into the shared parts.
- You get in touch with the address and anything you’ve noticed.
- 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.
- Every part of the roof is checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Prices for roof surveys in Shortlands
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included.
What we need to know
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it’s useful to mention:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Why get it checked now?
It’s easier to plan roof work than to react to it. With a report, you can tackle the urgent jobs first and plan the rest, rather than waiting for something to fail. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: a blocked parapet gutter or slipped slate can let water into the flat below or the house next door. Finding it early keeps the work smaller.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What you get with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 98% customer satisfaction
- A photo-illustrated written report
- An independent look at the roof
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Roof surveys in Shortlands: local notes
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Bromley Palace, about 0.8 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shortlands. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you let a flat or house near Shortlands station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near The Mall, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Shortlands is about 1 mile south-west of Bromley, in Greater London. Shortlands is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our Greater London coverage includes Shortlands. We also survey roofs in London.
We survey roofs across the BR2, BR1 and BR3 postcode area for roof surveys. Whether your property is on Hayes Lane, Stone Road and Hayes Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Shortlands include Eden Park (1 mile south-west), Hayes (2 miles south), Bromley Common (2 miles south-east), West Wickham (2 miles south-west) and Southborough (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover London (8 miles north-west), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (11 miles north-west), Kensington (11 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
Near you in Shortlands
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Richmal Crompton pub, Church House Gardens and Langley Park School for Girls, among other places. The nearest railway station is Shortlands station, about 0.5 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Bromley Hospital (0.7 miles east) and Bethlem Museum of the Mind (1.6 miles south-east). Open spaces near Shortlands include Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
FAQs for Shortlands
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Shortlands?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. London’s airspace includes flight restriction zones around Heathrow, London City Airport and London Heliport, and restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Every London address is checked against them before a flight. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first, including zones around airports and prisons. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Is my home in Shortlands listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
What do you check on a roof survey?
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.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we will take it from there. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How long does a roof survey take?
The visit typically takes between one and two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. We will give you an idea of timing as you book.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Common roof problems in Shortlands
The coverings are rarely the first thing to fail. ‘Nail fatigue’ is common on slate roofs: the nails rust and the slates slide. On tiled roofs, battens and pegs can rot.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
The streets around a church such as St Mark's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Their report turnaround times
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Useful tips for Shortlands property owners
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Mention any flat roofs as well as the main roof
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
- Keep the report with your property records
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. They’ll see each defect and its location, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after major storms. Regular checks catch problems while they’re small. Compare each report with the last.