Kent · London and the South East
Otford Drone Roof Survey
Close-up drone photographs of roofs that are hard to reach in Otford, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
- Wind damage high on the roof
Otford questions
Is my home in Otford listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Otford?
Normally it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you as you book.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
How long does the survey take?
Most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. The report follows by email.
Drone roof survey in Otford: what you get
Neighbours’ privacy matters on every flight. The camera stays on your roof, not on gardens or windows next door. If your roof is shared, a word with next door beforehand helps. We inspect only what the owner has asked us to. Each flight is kept short and stays focused on the roof we’re there to survey. If you’ve noticed lead work pulling away at abutments and debris building up in hidden gutters, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on tall and steep roofs, fragile roofs and chimney stacks alike.
Places like Otford can be near small airfields or other airspace restrictions, so every drone flight starts with a check of the Drone Safety Map. Exposed sites can be windy, and a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind, while thermal imaging also works best with little wind. Each flight is planned with neighbours’ privacy in mind, as well as the airspace and the wind.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- Otford (TN14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we’re asked to look at in Otford
After storms, owners want to know what has moved. It is hard to tell from below what has shifted. Close-up photos make it clear what has been disturbed.
Look out for signs like these:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Chimney tops in poor condition
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Bartholomew, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof frequently shows up clearly on a thermal image.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
How the survey changes by roof type
Steep slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, slipped slates frequently point to corroded nails. Close-up photos show how widespread it is.
Large commercial roofs
Big roofs on offices, warehouses and units take time to inspect. The drone covers the roof area by area.
Useful tips for Otford property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Clear a spot on the drive or lawn
- Keep dogs indoors during the visit
- Expect us to rearrange if it is too windy or wet
- Clear the loft hatch so we can check inside too
Premium also includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see how the roof has changed over the year.
Check the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. The underside frequently shows problems before the outside does. Take photos of any changes.
Nearby places to Otford
More services for Otford
Can I check my roof myself?
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- A flight where airspace permission is refused
- Anything inside the loft or under the coverings
- Neighbouring roofs the owner hasn’t asked us to survey
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Otford
- Flat roofs on upper floors
- Tall and steep roofs
- Fragile roofs
- Large and complex roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Drones, thermal imaging and Otford roofs
Our drone weighs under 250g, and we hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID. Open category rules keep flights below 120 m (400 ft) and the drone within sight at all times. The wider area around Otford has a long history of building, with Knole House about 3.2 miles south. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Otford Primary School, a view from above covers a wide roof far faster than walking it.
Otford is about 2 miles north of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We carry out drone roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Otford. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Maidstone is in our area too.
We cover every part of the TN14 postcode area for drone roof surveys. Whether your property is on Station Road, High Street and Bubblestone Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Otford include Twitton (1 mile west), Shoreham (2 miles north), Sepham Heath (2 miles north-west), Halstead (3 miles north-west) and Badgers Mount (3 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (15 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (12 miles north-east), Tonbridge (9 miles south-east) and Northfleet (11 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Otford
Around Otford, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Knole Academy, The Woodman pub and Fackenden Down. There is a railway station in Otford itself: Otford station. Other landmarks nearby include Kemsing Castle Bank (1.7 miles east) and Otford Heritage Centre (under half a mile south-east). Open spaces near Otford include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
How the survey works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit usually takes an hour or two for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Parking around Otford is typically easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from ground level, with the loft showing the underside, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- First comes the address, plus a note of what worries you about the roof.
- Any flight restriction at the address is looked at, with permission requested if required.
- On the day, we check the wind, weather and site before flying.
- Close-up photos are taken of each slope, chimney, valley and gutter, with the drone always in view.
- We email the report with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.