Before selling a Worthing property, get the roof inspected — it is the most surveyed element and a qualified comment can trigger a price reduction. A pre-sale inspection costs £120–£200 and identifies defects before a buyer's surveyor does. Fixing minor issues in advance is far cheaper than a negotiated reduction. Call 01903 905 128.
The roof is the element most consistently flagged in residential surveys across Worthing and West Sussex. A surveyor's comment on the roof — even a qualified one — can be enough to trigger a buyer's request for a price reduction, a specialist inspection, or in some cases a decision to withdraw. This guide covers what to check, what to fix, and how to position your roof evidence when selling.
Why Worthing Roofs Are High-Risk for Sales
Worthing's housing stock has characteristics that make roof condition particularly significant in the sales process. The dominant 1930s–1960s concrete tile across West Worthing, Goring-by-Sea and Durrington is now 65–90 years old — right in the window where nail sickness is actively developing. The Victorian and Edwardian stock in Broadwater and Heene has original Welsh slate now 110–140 years old. Seafront properties have accelerated lead and felt deterioration from salt air exposure. Any of these, flagged in a survey, creates a negotiating point for the buyer.
RICS survey guidance notes that roof coverings are inspected from ground level or a loft hatch, meaning defects such as nail sickness are frequently flagged for specialist investigation rather than assessed directly.
Source: RICS survey guidance
What a Survey Looks For — and What Surveyors Miss
What Standard Surveys Cover
A standard RICS HomeBuyer Report or Building Survey typically inspects the roof from ground level and from a loft hatch if accessible. From these vantage points, surveyors can assess: visible tile or slate condition, ridge line alignment, obvious chimney defects, gutter condition and fascia board appearance. They cannot assess nail fixing status from the ground. They cannot assess lead condition on chimney back gutters from a loft hatch. They cannot assess batten and felt integrity.
What Gets Reported
Surveyors are trained to be cautious. A roof that looks borderline from the ground will typically receive a qualified comment and a recommendation for specialist investigation — which then goes into the report and creates a buyer negotiating point. A roof with one or two visibly displaced tiles will be noted even if the rest of the roof is structurally sound.
The Pre-Sale Inspection
A pre-sale roof inspection from us costs £120–£200 for most Worthing properties. It involves direct roof access, a systematic check of all elements, and a written report identifying any findings. This report then serves two purposes: it tells you what needs fixing before sale, and it gives you documented evidence of the roof's condition that you can provide to buyers.
What to Fix Before Sale
Not everything identified in an inspection is worth fixing before sale. The calculation is: does the cost of the repair exceed the likely buyer-requested reduction if the issue is found? For most visible issues the answer is clearly yes — a buyer's surveyor who flags nail sickness will recommend a specialist investigation that may cost the vendor £500–£1,500 in agreed reduction even if the actual repair is £300.
The items most worth addressing before sale in Worthing:
- Missing or displaced tiles — always fix; very visible and always reported
- Ridge mortar gaps or crumbling — fix where accessible; reported consistently
- Lead chimney flashing — fix if lifting or cracked; chimney flashings are always inspected
- Gutter condition — fix sagging sections and joint leaks; gutters are inspected from the ground
- Nail sickness diagnosis — if your property is 1930s–1960s concrete tile, get an assessment; if it is present, know the scope before your buyer's surveyor finds it
What to Disclose
In England and Wales, sellers are not legally required to disclose known defects (unlike Scotland). However, deliberately concealing a known material defect can create legal liability after completion. The practical approach is to fix what you can affordably fix, and to have a written condition report for what remains. A buyer given a report showing "three tiles replaced, ridge repointed, gutters cleared — all other elements in age-appropriate condition" is in a significantly better position than one whose survey says "specialist investigation recommended."
We carry out pre-sale roof inspections across BN11–BN17. The written report includes a condition assessment by element and estimated costs for any identified repairs. Fee is £120–£200 and is deducted from any repair work subsequently carried out. Call 01903 905 128 to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — particularly if the property is over 40 years old or has concrete tile. A pre-sale inspection costs £120–£200 and identifies defects before a buyer's surveyor does. Finding and fixing problems in advance is significantly cheaper than a last-minute price reduction. Call 01903 905 128.
Missing or displaced tiles, ridge and hip mortar condition, lead flashing integrity, guttering condition, chimney stack stability, and on concrete tile properties — any evidence of nail sickness. Surveyors on coastal properties also note any evidence of accelerated coastal deterioration.
Yes. A comment like "the roof covering is aged and shows evidence of nail sickness — specialist investigation recommended" can trigger a buyer's request for a price reduction, a specialist inspection at the vendor's expense, or in some cases withdrawal. Identifying and addressing these issues before sale prevents this.
Minor repairs — a few tiles, ridge repointing, lead flashing work — typically £150–£600. These costs are almost always recovered in avoiding a buyer's requested reduction, which tends to be priced pessimistically. Call 01903 905 128 for a free pre-sale inspection.
Last reviewed: 20 July 2026 by Worthing Roofing Experts.
About the author
Worthing Roofing Experts — NFRC registered roofing specialists serving Worthing since 2003. Call 01903 905 128 for a free quote.