Greater London · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Southwark
Wondering about the roof at a property in Southwark? You can book a roof survey in Southwark and across Greater London, with plain-English findings.
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
Roof survey in Southwark
Three packages cover most roofs: a Basic Survey from £150, a Standard Survey from £250 and a Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. Basic is a visual inspection with photos and written recommendations. The higher packages add more checks, like moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies. Each one comes with a written report. Common reasons to book are valley linings that have cracked or split and gaps in the roof where coverings have gone, across lead flashings, flat roofs and the roof space.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. For a house in Southwark with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Southwark (SE1, SE11)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What we are asked to look at in Southwark
A blocked gutter does more harm than it looks. Leaves, moss and silt build up, the gutter overflows and water soaks the walls. Hidden gutters behind parapets and in valleys can send water indoors, especially near trees.
People normally book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Gabriel's Wharf, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak.
What to check before booking
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether VAT is added on top
How the survey works
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about one to two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. In a London conversion, the way into the loft space is often from a communal landing or the top flat. Where that’s the case, access needs agreeing with whoever controls that landing. Everything else is planned around the building, not the postcode.
- You pick the package that suits your roof.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
What a roof survey looks like in Southwark
Southwark is about 2 miles from the restricted area over the City of London, where drone flights need permission from NATS. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check whether the address falls inside it before flying. With Mansion House about 0.9 miles north, Southwark sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you live near a park such as Little Dorrit's Playground, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Southwark is about 0 miles north-west of London, in Greater London. We survey roofs in Southwark and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and South East England. Across Greater London, we cover Southwark and the places around it.
Here we cover the SE1 and SE11 postcode area for roof surveys. You’ll find streets such as Borough Square, Trinity Church Square and Merrick Square, all of which we cover. You will find Southwark on the A300 and B240, which makes it simple to reach. We also cover the places around Southwark: Tower Hill (1 mile north-east), City of London (1 mile north), Aldgate (1 mile north-east), Bishopsgate (1 mile north-east) and Barbican Estate (1 mile north). Further out, we also cover City of Westminster (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Brompton (3 miles west).
Near you in Southwark
Typical jobs here are in homes near London School of Musical Theatre, Little Dorrit's Playground and St Mary-at-Hill. Other local landmarks include Ark Globe Academy (within half a mile south-east), The BFI Reuben Library (0.9 miles north-west) and The Gladstone Arms (under half a mile north-east). The nearest railway station is Elephant & Castle station, roughly 0.5 miles south. Nearby you will also find Gabriel's Wharf (0.7 miles north-west) and Baynard's Castle (0.8 miles north). Open spaces near Southwark include Ludgate Hill and Bellenden Road Nature Garden.
Roof by roof
Flat roof coverings
Some flat roofs have been coated over several times. If the covering would need opening up to know more, we say so.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal chimneys, walls and abutments. We check for lead that has lifted, split or slipped.
What we can’t see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Southwark
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- The roof space
Nearby places to Southwark
More services for Southwark
Why get it checked now?
A roof that has had no attention for years can surprise you. Our report gives you a record of how the roof is today, which makes later changes easy to spot. 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 frequently 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 the job before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Southwark
- An independent look at the roof
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Visits on any day of the week
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
Your questions about roof surveys in Southwark
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Southwark?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
I let a flat near Elephant & Castle station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we’ll recommend the right survey. Surveys run seven days a week.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos testing is not part of our service. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on older buildings, we flag them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We also inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.