Leasehold

The survey suggests investigations to the roof of a shared-ownership flat. What landlord consent for those works has the survey not applied for?

Landlord consent for those roof investigations has not been applied for. The survey has suggested investigations to the roof of the shared-ownership flat. Applying for consent is a step with the landlord under the lease, not a sentence the survey can send. The report does not grant permission to open the roof, instruct a specialist onto the building, or alter anything. The inspection has suggested a look. It has not asked the landlord.

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.

What is the fuller explanation?

Shared ownership leaves the landlord in the picture for works, even when you live in the flat. A suggestion in a survey is advice to you. It is not an application, and it is not the landlord's reply. Opening a roof to investigate can be works the lease controls. The surveyor did not write to the landlord. GOV.UK warns that extending a shared-ownership lease can be much more expensive below 80 years. That warning is about the lease, not consent for this roof.

Ask the solicitor to read the lease and to say what landlord consent the investigations need, and submit that application if the solicitor says it is required. Do not instruct a roofer to open the roof on the survey sentence alone. The survey has not applied for consent. The warning about extending a lease below 80 years is not a calculation of this roof, and it is not a consent either.

What should you ask your surveyor?

Has the survey stopped at suggesting roof investigations?
What landlord consent has it not applied for?
Have you left the lease wording with the solicitor?

What are the typical next steps?

Treat the roof note as a suggestion, not as consent.
Ask the solicitor what landlord consent the investigations need.
Do not open the roof before that consent question is answered.

Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.

Also asked about this

If the roof is already leaking, can the works start without asking?

The survey has not decided that. A leak makes the investigation more pressing. It does not turn the survey into an application for landlord consent, and it does not grant permission to open the roof. Urgency is not the landlord's consent.

Does the 80-year warning price these roof investigations?

No. GOV.UK warns that extending a shared-ownership lease can be much more expensive below 80 years. That is about the lease, not a price for opening this roof. The survey has not applied for consent and has not costed the works.