Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Chitty
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Chitty, with photos and a clear written report.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a hamlet or village like Chitty, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Preparing for the visit
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chitty
We survey roofs for buyers in Chitty and across London and the South East. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, the roof gets the same careful look. The report says what’s in good order, what is not and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We survey chimney stacks, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are standing water on a flat extension roof and slipped or missing slates and tiles.
In a village or hamlet like Chitty, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Chitty (CT3)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Chitty?
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Before booking anyone
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- How long the report takes to arrive
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Chitty
Chitty lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Landlords with a home close to Herne Bay station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Chitty is about 4 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. Whether the building in Chitty is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Across Kent, we cover Chitty. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Surveys in CT3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Other places close to Chitty include Chislet (1 mile west), Hollow Street (1 mile south-west), Boyden Gate (1 mile north-west), Old Tree (1 mile west) and Highstead (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (7 miles south-west), Margate (9 miles east), Dover (14 miles south), Ramsgate (9 miles east), Broadstairs (10 miles east) and Whitstable (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in Chitty
In Chitty, that means homes and buildings near Grove Ferry Picnic Area. Chitty’s nearest station is Herne Bay station, about 4 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (5.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Chitty: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Chitty?
Yes. Chitty is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Is my home in Chitty 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.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Which survey package you book
- The roof’s overall size
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What we can’t see
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Chitty
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
Also near Chitty
Other services in Chitty
Surveys for landlords and agents in Chitty
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What happens if roof problems are left?
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on any day of the week, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Around Chitty, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chitty
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 98% of clients satisfied
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.