Drone survey FAQs
Straight answers about how we work, what it costs and what you get. 34 questions, grouped by topic.
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Safety, permissions & insurance
How we fly legally and safely, and what we can send to your procurement or H&S team.
Are your drone pilots CAA approved?
Yes. We operate under CAA Operational Authorisation 11363, our pilots are qualified and certified, and every flight is planned and flown in line with our authorisation and current UK drone law. See our accreditations →
What insurance do you hold?
£10 million public liability, £10 million employers’ liability and £1 million professional indemnity, plus specialist drone cover meeting the requirements of EC Regulation 785/2004. We can send certificates before we attend site.
Do I need council or CAA permission for a drone survey?
You don’t usually need planning or council permission for a drone survey. The legal responsibility sits with the drone operator, who must comply with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules. We check airspace restrictions, such as airport flight restriction zones, and arrange any extra permissions, plus landowner consent for take-off and landing, as part of every job.
Can you fly in cities, near airports or around people?
Yes. Before every job we carry out airspace checks, secure any permissions needed from air traffic control or landowners, and complete a site-specific risk assessment. Busy urban and rail sites may need a little more planning time, and we build that into the quote.
Do you provide RAMS?
Yes. Every job comes with a site-specific risk assessment and method statement, prepared as part of our pre-flight planning and sent before we attend site.
Will the drone photograph residents or neighbouring properties?
Not intentionally. Every flight is planned around the building being surveyed, with the camera pointed at the roof and façade rather than into windows, gardens or neighbouring homes. Anything captured by accident is blurred or removed before delivery, and all imagery is handled in line with UK GDPR. Resident notification letters are available on request.
Do I need a licence to fly my own drone?
There’s no single “drone licence”, but most drones of 100g or more need a Flyer ID, and an Operator ID if they have a camera. Read our UK drone laws guide →
Booking, weather & access
Where we work, what we need from you on the day, and what happens if the weather turns.
Do you cover the whole UK?
Yes. Our head office is in Liverpool and we have pilots across mainland UK, so we can survey single sites and multi-site programmes anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales. See the areas we cover →
How quickly can you get to site?
It depends on the location, the service and the weather, but our pilot network means we can usually react quickly. Tell us your timescale when you ask for a quote and we’ll confirm a date.
Do I need to be on site during the survey?
Not usually. We need access to the ground around the building and a point of contact, but no one needs to accompany the pilot. For occupied or public-facing sites we agree timings and any cordons in advance.
Can you fly in rain or high winds?
No. Surveys are carried out in dry conditions with wind speeds within our operating limits, as rain on the lens and unstable conditions affect image quality and safe flight.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We monitor the forecast in the days before your survey. If wind or rain would affect safety or image quality, we’ll rebook at no extra cost and tell you as early as possible. Thermal surveys need cold, dry conditions, so they’re best booked between October and March.
Prices & quotes
What a drone survey costs, what’s included and how it compares with access equipment.
How much does a drone survey cost?
Drone roof inspections start from £250 + VAT for domestic properties and £350 + VAT for commercial properties. Larger buildings, measured surveys and multi-site programmes are quoted individually after a free desk-based assessment. See our prices →
Do your prices include VAT, permissions and travel?
Published prices exclude VAT. Flight permissions and travel are included, and your fixed quote stays fixed, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
How do drone surveys compare to scaffolding?
For inspections and condition surveys, a drone is almost always significantly cheaper. Scaffolding means erection, weekly hire and dismantling, and only gives access to the scaffolded sections. A drone covers the whole roof in one visit with no one working at height, and you can then scaffold only the areas that need repair.
Do you offer savings on multiple sites?
Yes. We group properties by area, so larger portfolios work out cheaper per site. See multi-site surveys →
Data & deliverables
What you receive, how it’s delivered and who it’s for.
What will I receive, and how quickly?
As a minimum, high-resolution imagery organised into folders by area, so faults are easy to find. Imagery is usually delivered within 48 hours. Written reports, 3D models, point clouds, CAD drawings and Revit models can be added, with turnaround agreed in your quote.
How is the data delivered?
Through our secure online portal, organised by site and building, ready to view, download and share with your team and contractors.
Can I watch the survey live?
Yes. Ask us about our virtual reality headset, which lets you view the flight and guide our pilot to capture anything else you need while we’re on site.
Are you independent?
Yes. We’re not tied to any contractor or supplier, so our findings are always objective.
What drones do you use?
We run a mixed fleet, including DJI, Skydio, Autel and Parrot aircraft, so we can match the drone and camera to the job, from tight urban sites to large infrastructure.
Who uses your services?
Housing associations, local authorities, facilities and estates teams, surveyors, contractors, insurers, landlords and homeowners.
About our services
Quick answers about our main survey types. Each links to the full service page.
What is a drone roof survey?
A visual inspection of a roof carried out by drone instead of scaffolding, a cherry picker or roof access. High-resolution images from above and from angles that are hard to reach on foot give a dated photographic record you can review, share and store. Roof surveys →
Is a drone survey as good as a physical roof inspection?
For visible condition, a drone survey often shows more, because it covers the whole roof from angles that can’t safely be reached on foot. It isn’t an intrusive or structural investigation, but it shows exactly where any opening-up or testing should be targeted.
Can a drone survey replace a chartered surveyor’s inspection?
No. It gives surveyors and asset managers safe, detailed access to parts of a building they couldn’t otherwise see. Many surveying practices commission us for the high-level imagery that informs their own reports. Drone surveys for surveyors →
What is a drone thermal survey?
A survey using a radiometric thermal camera on a drone to measure surface temperatures across a roof and elevations. Temperature differences reveal heat loss, missing insulation, cold bridging and water ingress. Thermal surveys →
What is a heat loss survey?
A thermal survey focused on where warmth is escaping from a building, highlighting missing insulation, thermal bridging and air leakage. Heat loss surveys →
What is a measured survey?
An accurate record of a building or site, supplied as drawings, point clouds or models. A measured building survey records the building itself, while a topographical survey records the land, levels and site features. Measured surveys →
What is a point cloud?
A dense set of 3D points, each with a measured position, that records the exact shape of a building or site. It can be turned into CAD drawings and Revit models. Point clouds →
What is a digital twin?
A digital replica of your building, combining an external 3D model from drone data with an internal 360 scan, so you can explore it remotely. Digital twins →
What is a schedule of condition?
A dated record of a property’s condition, usually with photographs and descriptions. It’s used before building works, at the start or end of a lease, or to plan maintenance. Schedule of condition →
What is a RAG condition report?
A report that rates each part of a building red, amber or green, so you can see what needs urgent work, what to plan and what is in good condition. RAG condition reports →
What is site progress monitoring?
Regular drone surveys of a construction site at agreed intervals, capturing photos, video and data to record how the project is progressing. Progress monitoring →
Can a drone identify RAAC?
No. RAAC is usually hidden beneath roof coverings and finishes, so it must be identified by a structural engineer or surveyor. Drones support that work by recording the roof and signs of deterioration. RAAC inspections →
Call us on 0345 017 5592 (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00) or email info@dronesitesurveys.co.uk.