Greater London · London and the South East
Gutter Survey in Kensington
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes in Kensington, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Overflowing valley or parapet gutters
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Overflowing eaves gutters
About our gutter survey in Kensington
Some gutters are easy to see from the street, but many are not. Valley gutters between slopes, gutters behind parapet walls and box or secret gutters can overflow inside the building when they block. We inspect them as far as it is safe to see them, from the ground, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where it is safe. Many leaks indoors start at a hidden gutter. We survey downpipes, valley gutters and eaves gutters, and common reasons people get in touch are blocked outlets and hoppers and overflowing eaves gutters.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. If your home in Kensington has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
If any part of the gutter couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Kensington (W11, W8, W14, SW7)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Local roofs in Kensington
Leighton House, about 0.1 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Kensington. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. If your home in Kensington is one of them, lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are part of the picture too. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Homes near green spaces like Holland Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. Take an older house close to Church of St Barnabas: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Kensington is about 5 miles west of London, in Greater London. We cover Kensington and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and South East England. Kensington is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work.
Here we cover the W11, W8, W14 and SW7 postcode area for gutter surveys. We cover properties on Kensington High Street, Edwardes Square and Somerset Square. Being close to the A402 and B316, Kensington is easy for us to reach. Other places close to Kensington include Holland Park (1 mile north), Notting Hill (1 mile north), Shepherd's Bush (1 mile west), Notting Dale (1 mile north) and White City (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover London (5 miles east), Marylebone (3 miles north-east), St Pancras (4 miles north-east), Shoreditch (6 miles east), Walthamstow (10 miles north-east) and Hoxton (6 miles north-east). Kensington is one of the larger places we cover in Greater London.
Around Kensington
Typical jobs here are in homes near Holland Park, Scarsdale Tavern and Holland Park School and the streets around them. Also close by are Kensington School (0.5 miles east) and Abdus Salam Library (1 mile east). Kensington has its own railway station: Kensington Olympia station. Well-known places in the area include Kensington Arcade (less than half a mile east) and London Museum (0.7 miles north-east). The countryside around Kensington includes WWT London Wetland Centre and The Long Water.
Common questions in Kensington
Is my home in Kensington listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Kensington?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
Do you cover Kensington for gutter surveys?
Yes. We cover Kensington and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and the South East. For a price, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Do you survey at weekends?
Yes. Surveys are carried out on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us to arrange a day.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Kensington
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Also near Kensington
What else we do in Kensington
When to book a survey in Kensington
Many gutter joints depend on rubber seals or sealant that age. Plastic gutters move with heat and cold, and in time their joints can drip. Cast iron joints can corrode and part once the paint has worn away.
Common reasons to book include:
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Soffits marked by water
- Choked outlets or hopper heads
If you own a rental within reach of Kensington Olympia station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What they will not be able to tell you
When you need someone else
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Damage hidden inside walls or behind boards
- Whether a material contains asbestos (a specialist asbestos surveyor’s job)
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Kensington
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Eaves gutters
- Downpipes
- Parapet and box gutters
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Kensington moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- We agree which parts of the building you’re most worried about.
- Each gutter run is checked for blockages, sags and leaking joints.
- Outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows are inspected.
- Fascias, soffits and the walls below are looked at for signs of overflow.
- Findings are photographed and set out in a written report.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Keep pets in another room
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or email us. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Lead gutters need their linings, steps and outlets in good order where it is safe to see them. Lead is also a target for theft.
Box and secret gutters
Secret gutters are hidden under the edge of the roof covering and is easy to overlook. We look at what’s visible and note what is not.