Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Devil's Den
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Devil's Den and the rest of Kent. We survey seven days a week.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
What affects the price in Devil's Den
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Anything about access we should know
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Devil's Den
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side. If you are worried about chimney mortar that has eroded and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Devil's Den, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Devil's Den (ME17)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. You’ll know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Around Devil's Den, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- An independent view of the roof
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Plain-English reports with photos
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Devil's Den?
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
Historic houses such as Stoneacre, about 4 miles north, show how far back building around Devil's Den goes. If you are buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Share the report with your solicitor
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Devil's Den
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
For landlords with property near Staplehurst station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Devil's Den is about 5 miles south of Maidstone, in Kent. From houses to flats and shops in Devil's Den, the roof can be surveyed. Across Kent, we cover Devil's Den and the places around it.
We cover every part of the ME17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you’re just outside Devil's Den, we cover Farthing Green (1 mile south-east), Rabbit's Cross (1 mile west), Cross-at-Hand (1 mile west), Hawkenbury (1 mile south) and Staplehurst (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (5 miles north), Ashford (13 miles east), Sittingbourne (12 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles west), Tonbridge (13 miles west) and Kings Hill (9 miles north-west).
Around Devil's Den
Devil's Den’s nearest station is Staplehurst station, about 1.8 miles south-west. A little further out are Sutton Valence Castle (1.6 miles north-east) and South East Romany Museum (3 miles south-west).
Nearby places to Devil's Den
More services for Devil's Den
Devil's Den: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Devil's Den?
Yes, Devil's Den is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you cover Devil's Den?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Devil's Den is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you as you book.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older roofs in small places like Devil's Den can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Let us know about parking near the property
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes