Kent · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Hartlip, Kent
An experienced roof surveyor for gutter surveys in Hartlip. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Joints that drip after rain
- Choked outlets or hopper heads
How a gutter survey works in Hartlip
Most blocked gutters are full of leaves, moss or silt. Homes close to trees fill their gutters faster, and moss washing off a tiled or slate roof adds to it. We note where gutters are clogged or holding water, which outlets and hoppers are choked and whether overflows are working. Photos show each problem clearly. Blocked gutters are easy to put off but it rarely improves. We survey valley gutters, fascias and soffits and outlets and hoppers, and people most frequently book us about leaves and moss blocking gutters and leaks at the gutter joints.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Place
- Hartlip (ME9)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Hartlip: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hartlip?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Hartlip?
It can do. Within about 4 miles of the sea, as Hartlip is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do you look in the loft space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Can a gutter survey explain damp on my walls?
We check whether rainwater from the gutters is reaching the wall, through overflows, drips or damaged downpipes. We can’t see inside walls, so we report on what’s visible.
Will you look at parapet and box gutters as well?
Yes, where it’s safe to see them. We use the ground, windows, the loft space and the roof where it is safe and a drone where applicable.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Is a Saturday or Sunday visit possible?
Yes. Surveys are carried out on any day of the week. To find a day that suits, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Tips that help
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
- Check the loft with care after heavy rain
- Make sure downpipe clips are holding
- Get the gutters cleaned out every year
If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey comes with an in-person one.
Have overhanging branches and climbing plants cut back from the roof using someone with the right kit. Fewer leaves in the gutters means fewer blockages.
When you need someone else
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Asbestos testing of old gutters, downpipes or soffits
- Blockages deep inside downpipes
- The inside of buried drains
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Valley gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Eaves gutters
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Outlets and hoppers
Towns and villages near Hartlip
Also in Hartlip
Local roofs in Hartlip
Hartlip is within about 4 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Whatever the covering, it’s frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you own a rental within reach of Newington station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Living close to Foxburrow Wood is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Hartlip is about 3 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Kent. Whether the building in Hartlip is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Hartlip is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Gutter surveys in ME9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include The Street, Dane Close and Place Lane. Nearby, we also carry out gutter surveys in Lower Hartlip (1 mile east), Moor Street (1 mile north-west), Breach (1 mile north-east), Meresborough (1 mile west) and Newington (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (7 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (4 miles east), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Faversham (11 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (9 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Hartlip
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Leigh Academy Rainham and Foxburrow Wood and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Newington station, about 1.3 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Bayford Court (4.5 miles east) and Medway Maritime Hospital (4.8 miles north-west). The countryside around Hartlip includes Detling Hill and Bishop Saltings.
Common roof problems in Hartlip
Gutter brackets work loose or corrode with age. Wet leaves and silt add a lot of weight, and that weight pulls sections out of line. Once the fall is lost, water sits at the low point and spills over.
Common reasons to book include:
- Valley or box gutters that overflow inside
- Overflowing eaves gutters
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
- Hoppers and outlets full of debris
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Michael, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the price includes VAT
How the survey changes by roof type
Plastic (uPVC) gutters
Many homes have plastic gutters and downpipes. As the seals age, joints can start to drip and brackets may drop under the weight of debris.
Box and secret gutters
Box and secret gutters often cause leaks indoors. We look at the outlets, linings and overflows where safe.
How the survey works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. Around Hartlip, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- First, we agree the areas to focus on.
- We look along each run for debris, sagging and drips.
- We check the outlets, hoppers, downpipes and any overflows.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- Findings are photographed and set out in a written report.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.