Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Densole, Kent
A careful look at the roof at your property in Densole, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Densole
If you are buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s frequently not the individual flat owner. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it is checked as far as access allows. We survey natural slate, chimney stacks and lead flashings and valleys, and people most often book us about old water stains in the roof space and slipped or missing slates and tiles.
In a village or hamlet like Densole, 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.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Densole (CT18)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Densole
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Densole?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Is my home in Densole listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Densole?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Do you work in Densole?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Densole.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Densole, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us and give us a few details about the property and we will point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Common roof problems in Densole
Gutter problems frequently look minor from the street. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we look at.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Acrise Place, about 1.2 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Densole. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Before you book anyone
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will point you to the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Densole: local notes
Densole lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Take an older house close to St Luke's: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. If you own a rental within reach of Folkestone West station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Densole is about 3 miles north of Folkestone, in Kent. Wherever you are in Densole, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CT18. Streets in the area include St John's Close, St John's Way and Canterbury Road. Close by, we survey roofs in Hawkinge (1 mile south), Swingfield Minnis (1 mile north), Old Hawkinge (2 miles south-east), Arpinge (2 miles south-west) and Selsted (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (11 miles north), Dover (6 miles east), Folkestone (3 miles south), Deal (12 miles north-east) and Hythe (5 miles south-west).
Near you in Densole
For rail, the closest station is Folkestone West station, about 3.1 miles south. Nearby you will also find Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (2.7 miles south-west) and Folkestone Castle (2.1 miles south). Not far away are Cheriton Hill.
Nearby places to Densole
Also in Densole
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.