Medway · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Chatham
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Chatham and the rest of Medway. We survey seven days a week.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Practical tips
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, particularly where we have found patch repairs.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Chatham
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. Common reasons to book are patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and the roof space.
A place the size of Chatham has homes of every age, from older terraces and villas to post-war estates and recent developments. Older slate roofs, post-war concrete tiles and brand-new coverings each have their own typical faults. Whether you’re buying or have just paid for a new roof, knowing which you’re dealing with shapes what gets checked.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Chatham (ME5, ME4, ME7, ME1)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Chatham
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Chatham. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Chatham
Chatham is within about 4 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Christ the King, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you let a flat or house near Chatham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Chatham is about 29 miles east of London, in Medway. We survey roofs in Chatham and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Chatham is one of the places in Medway where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: ME5, ME4, ME7 and ME1. Whether your property is on Luton High Street, Market Place and High Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. Main roads around Chatham include the A2 and A229. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Luton (1 mile north), Hale (1 mile north-east), Darland (1 mile east), Capstone (1 mile east) and Walderslade (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Rochester (3 miles north-west), Rainham (3 miles east), Strood (3 miles north-west), Park Wood (3 miles east), Twydall (3 miles north-east) and Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north). Chatham is one of the larger places we cover in Medway.
Near you in Chatham
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Huntsman pub, Walderslade Girls' School and Darland Banks. The nearest railway station is Chatham station, about 1.7 miles north of the centre. Nearby you will also find Six Poor Travellers House (2.5 miles north-west) and Rochester Castle (2.6 miles north-west). Not far away are Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
FAQs for Chatham
Is my home in Chatham listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is drone flying allowed in Chatham?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. Chatham is about 2 miles from Rochester Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
How do I book a survey in Chatham?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Tell us the address and a little about the roof. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Is Chatham in your area?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Chatham included.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Tell us your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Chatham?
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
With Restoration House about 2.4 miles north-west, the area around Chatham has a long history. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
What to check before booking
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What exactly goes into their report
- When you will get the report
- What follow-up you get after the report
What else we do in Chatham
Why get it checked now?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit seven days a week, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Roof faults in Chatham, as anywhere, rarely fix themselves: one loose tile lets in water, which weakens the battens and loosens more. Early action is normally the cheaper option.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chatham
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- An independent view of the roof
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a place the size of Chatham, the building you want surveyed may be a house, a flat above a shop or a whole block. Let us know the type of building and who can let us in, and the visit is planned around that.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.