Roof condition records for every property you manage
For letting agents, portfolio landlords and block managers: photos and video of each roof, without scaffolding or a ladder on a tenant’s doorstep.
What we check
- Roof coverings on every visible slope
- Chimney stacks, pots, flaunching and flashing
- Gutters, downpipe outlets, fascias and soffits
- Valleys and gulleys between terraced roofs and rear extensions
- Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages
- Shared roofs on converted houses and small blocks
- Rooflights and solar panels
What you get
- Photos and 4K video for each property, organised by area of the roof
- Annotated PDF reports for your records, contractors or insurers (£200 package)
- A consistent record you can compare year on year
- Images to brief contractors before they visit, so quotes match the problem
When to book
- A tenant reports damp, a leak or a slipped slate
- At the start or end of a tenancy
- Before you take a new property on to your books
- As an annual check across a portfolio
- After a storm, across several addresses at once
Why do landlords need records of roof condition?
In England, section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 makes landlords of most residential tenancies responsible for keeping the structure and exterior in repair, and that includes the roof, gutters and external pipes. The duty is to carry out repairs within a reasonable time once you’re aware of the problem.
Two things follow. You need to know about problems early, and you need to be able to show what the roof looked like and what you did about it. A dated set of photos and video does both. It turns a vague “the roof’s probably fine” into a record you can put on file, share with a contractor, or show an insurer.
This isn’t legal advice, and the details depend on the tenancy; organisations such as the NRLA and Shelter publish guidance. Our landlord roof maintenance guide sets out a simple routine for staying on top of it.
How can letting agents use drone inspections across a portfolio?
For an agent, the hard part of roof maintenance is usually getting a clear answer quickly. A tenant reports a stain, the landlord wants to know how serious it is, and a roofer can’t give a fixed quote without getting up there.
A drone inspection gives you that answer without scaffolding and without anyone going inside the property. You get photos and video you can forward straight to the landlord, even one who lives far from Plymouth, along with a roofer’s quote based on the same images.
We can also work through a list. Send us the addresses, and we’ll plan the flights efficiently, whether that’s a one-off condition check across your managed properties or a recurring schedule, for example every autumn before the winter weather. to confirm: multi-property and recurring pricing, invoicing to agents
Each property gets the same consistent set of images, so year-on-year comparisons are straightforward. See what a typical job looks like on our recent inspections page.
What about blocks, conversions and shared roofs?
Plymouth has a lot of large Victorian houses converted into flats, and small blocks managed on behalf of leaseholders. The roof is usually shared, the costs are shared, and agreeing what needs doing can take a while.
Clear photos help. A block manager can circulate the same images to every leaseholder, so everyone sees the same evidence before a repair is agreed. The Annotated Report (£200) labels each visible concern and its location on the roof, which makes it easier to scope works and compare contractors’ quotes like for like.
Whether we can fly a particular building depends on its height, its surroundings and the airspace around it. Larger blocks close to busy roads or public spaces need more planning, and some locations need extra permission. We’ll tell you before booking if anything limits what we can do. Our article on whether drone roof inspections are legal in the UK explains the rules.
What happens when a tenant reports a leak?
Speed matters. Water damage spreads, tenants understandably want a response, and the duty to repair starts when you’re told about the problem.
For a single reported issue, a Targeted Roof Inspection (£75) photographs the area above the leak and gives a brief summary of visible defects. If the source isn’t obvious, the Full Roof Visual Inspection (£150) covers every visible slope, chimney, valley and gutter. Both are explained on our roof leak investigation page.
On a recent job on Milehouse Road, a significant leak above a staircase was traced to a lead-lined gulley, which Tom Duggan Roofing then replaced. Clear images like that let you approve the right repair quickly.
Once the work is done, a quick after-repair check gives you evidence for your file. Full prices are on our pricing page, and we cover properties across Plymouth.
What a drone cannot tell you
Our inspections are visual. They record what can be seen on the outside of the roof; they are not structural surveys, they don’t include the inside of the property or the roof space, and they don’t replace any safety or compliance check the law requires of landlords. We can’t see under slates or behind flashing. Whether we can fly a given building depends on its height, location and airspace, and some sites need extra permission. We only fly in dry, reasonably calm weather, so a booking can move if the wind picks up or it rains. to confirm: CAA Operator ID, pilot qualifications and insurance details for agent due diligence
Questions
Do tenants need to be at home for the inspection?
We fly from outside, so we don’t need to go into the property. Even so, it’s good practice to let tenants know when we’ll be there so a drone over the roof doesn’t come as a surprise, and we may need to use a garden or yard with permission. We’ll agree the arrangements with you, the agent or landlord, when booking.
Do you offer rates for several properties or regular checks?
Yes, get in touch with your list of addresses and how often you’d like them checked, and we’ll put together a quote. Grouping nearby properties on the same day keeps things efficient. to confirm: multi-property and recurring pricing Our standard prices are £75 for a single area, £150 for a full roof and £200 with an annotated report.
Can you inspect a block of flats?
Often, yes, particularly converted houses and smaller blocks. It depends on the building’s height, what’s around it and the airspace, because drone flights near busy roads, crowds or certain sites need extra planning or permission. Send us the address and we’ll tell you before booking whether we can cover it, and whether any part of the roof is likely to be out of view.
Will the report satisfy our insurer?
We can’t promise that, because every insurer and policy is different. What we provide is a clear, dated visual record of the roof’s condition, with labelled photos in the annotated report, which is the kind of evidence insurers often ask for. Check with your insurer or broker what they need, and we’ll make sure the report covers the relevant areas.
Can you send the photos straight to the landlord or contractor?
Yes. Tell us who should receive the images when you book, whether that’s the agent, the landlord, a block manager or a roofer. The photos, video and any report are yours to share. You can forward them to the landlord with a roofer’s quote attached, so the decision can be made in one go.
Tell us about your roof
Send the address area and what you are worried about. We reply within one working day with options and a fixed price.
Prefer to talk it through? Book a free 15-minute call and we will help you choose the right inspection.