Kent · London and the South East
Leeds Drone Roof Survey
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out drone roof surveys in Leeds.
- Vegetation in valleys and gutters
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Damage after a storm that can’t be seen from below
Tips that help
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Keep pets indoors during the flight
- A word with neighbours beforehand helps
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
- Tell us the exact address when you book
The Premium Survey report comes the same day. Drone photos are included where we could fly, alongside the other checks in the package.
Every so frequently, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. The underside frequently shows problems before the outside does. Take photos of any changes.
Drone roof survey in Leeds
From the air, the outer surfaces are clear, but it cannot see inside. We check the loft from inside where it’s safe, because the underside tells its own story. Inside and out together tell you far more. The report sets out what the drone showed and what we found inside. Where the loft cannot be reached safely, we note it. If you’ve noticed cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots and gaps where slates or tiles have gone, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, fragile roofs and large and complex roofs alike.
Villages like Leeds often stand in open country, where wind can be strong. Strong wind or heavy rain stops a small drone flying, and calm conditions also suit thermal imaging best. We plan the journey, access and timing around the weather. If the day turns windy or wet, the visit can be moved.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Leeds (ME17)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
What a drone roof survey looks like in Leeds
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Flights in the open category stay under 120 m (400 ft), with the drone kept in sight. The wider area around Leeds has a long history of building, with Leeds Castle about 1 mile east. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Nicholas's Church, steep roofs, tall chimneys and hidden valleys can be hard to see from ground level, and that is where a view from the air or with a thermal camera helps. If you run a business near The Mall Maidstone, large commercial roofs are frequently easiest to see by drone or thermal camera.
Leeds is about 4 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. We cover Leeds and the rest of Kent. Leeds is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work.
Here we cover the ME17 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Local streets include Brogden Crescent, Forge Lane and Gloriette Avenue, all of which we cover. Nearby, we also carry out drone roof surveys in Ashbank (1 mile north-east), Broomfield (1 mile east), Eyhorne Street (1 mile north-east), Chartway Street (2 miles south) and Kingswood (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (4 miles west), Ashford (13 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north-east), Tonbridge (15 miles west), Faversham (13 miles east) and Minster (15 miles north-east).
Near you in Leeds
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The George Inn. The nearest railway station is Hollingbourne station, about 1.6 miles north-east. A little further out are Leeds Castle (1 mile east) and KIMS hospital (3.4 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Detling Hill.
Common roof problems in Leeds
Chimney tops take the worst of the weather. From the ground, you rarely see cracked flaunching or loose pots. Close-up drone photos show their condition.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Debris building up in hidden gutters
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Slipped or missing slates on a high roof
- Cracked flaunching or loose chimney pots
If you look after a building like Leeds and Broomfield Church of England Primary School, big roofs are where aerial photos and thermal images show the most at once.
Questions to ask before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What the survey won’t cover
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What happens after the report arrives
Surveys for landlords and agents in Leeds
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit usually takes about one to two hours at a house, including the airspace and weather checks before take-off. Cottages and farmhouses around Leeds often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You give us the address so we can check the airspace.
- We arrange any permission that is needed before we fly.
- On the day, we check the weather and the site before flying.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Common questions in Leeds
How do I find out if my home in Leeds is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Leeds?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
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, and the report makes that clear.
Will you check the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Small defects on a high roof grow with each storm. Spotting them early keeps the work smaller. For an older or listed building in a place like Leeds, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Leeds
- Prices that include VAT
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.