Greater London · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Telegraph Hill
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Telegraph Hill, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Worn or blocked valleys
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Telegraph Hill moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, let us know 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 roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Every part of the roof is checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Telegraph Hill
Many homes have several roofs, not just one. Rear extensions, dormers, porches and garages frequently have flat roofs in felt, EPDM rubber, GRP or asphalt. We check them as well as the main pitched roof, including signs of standing water, splits and tired upstands. A flat roof typically wears out sooner than a pitched one, so they deserve a careful look. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. Typical surveys look at slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles and loose ridge or hip tiles, on lead flashings, natural slate and ridges, hips and valleys.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces are found right across London, often with slate roofs, chimney stacks shared with neighbours and gutters hidden behind parapets. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails often give out first and let slates slip. Homes in Telegraph Hill are no exception. Shared chimney stacks and the lead around them are just as important to check.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Telegraph Hill (SE4, SE15, SE14)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Can I check my roof myself?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
Telegraph Hill questions
Is drone flying allowed in Telegraph Hill?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. 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. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Telegraph Hill?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. That way the visit can be planned around it.
Can you inspect a terraced or semi-detached roof?
Yes, we can. We inspect what the owner gives us access to. Where a defect looks to be on the neighbour’s side, the report says so.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Each report includes photos.
How long does a roof survey take?
On site, it typically takes between one and two hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Do you go up on the roof?
When the roof and the conditions make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Telegraph Hill homes and their roofs
Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses like Queen's House, about 2 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Telegraph Hill goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you run a business near Lewisham Shopping Centre, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you live in an older home near St Catherine's Hatcham, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you look after a building such as Haberdashers' Hatcham College, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Telegraph Hill is about 1 mile south-west of New Cross, in Greater London. Surveys in Telegraph Hill work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at what can be seen safely, photographs and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Greater London.
Surveys in SE4, SE15 and SE14 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Mona Road, Pepys Road and Kitto Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Telegraph Hill: Nunhead (1 mile south-west), New Cross (1 mile north-east), Peckham (1 mile north-west), St Johns (1 mile east) and Brockley (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (3 miles north-west), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (5 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (4 miles north).
Near you in Telegraph Hill
We work in homes and buildings around Fordham Park and The Brockley Barge pub, among other places. Telegraph Hill has its own railway station: Brockley station. Nearby you’ll also find Southwark Adult Education Institute (0.6 miles north-west) and Lewisham Shopping Centre (1.4 miles east). Green spaces nearby include St. James's Park Lake and New Cross Gate Cutting.
What this survey cannot tell you
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Flat roofs
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
Other services in Telegraph Hill
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings and valleys are where many leaks start. They get particular attention in every survey.
Natural slate
Many Victorian and Edwardian houses have slate roofs. Widespread slipping normally points to corroded nails, which we describe in the report.
How we price roof surveys
We confirm the exact price before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Getting in touch
We’ll usually ask about:
- Anything about access we should know
- The property’s address and postcode
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.