Kent · London and the South East
Donkey Street Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Donkey Street, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Donkey Street: what you get
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. If you’ve noticed a ridge or slope that dips and chimney mortar that has eroded, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Donkey Street, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Donkey Street (TN29)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Donkey Street
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Donkey Street, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Donkey Street
- An independent view of the roof
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Questions from Donkey Street
Is Donkey Street within the area you cover?
Yes, Donkey Street is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Donkey Street?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when you book.
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 the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. We can’t promise how the seller will respond.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
What you can safely check yourself
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Donkey Street, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
How to prepare
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Nearby places to Donkey Street
Other services in Donkey Street
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Donkey Street
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The roof’s overall size
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What to tell us when you contact us
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Buying a home or a new roof in Donkey Street
Donkey Street is within about 2 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. 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. Historic houses such as Westenhanger Castle, about 3.2 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Donkey Street goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you live in an older home near Church of All Saints, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. For landlords with property near Westenhanger station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Donkey Street is about 4 miles south-west of Hythe, in Kent. Donkey Street is one of many places we visit across Kent, for homes and businesses alike. Donkey Street is one of the places in Kent we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: TN29. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Dymchurch (1 mile south), West Hythe (2 miles north-east), Lympne (2 miles north-east), Palmarsh (2 miles north-east) and Berwick (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (9 miles north-west), Dover (14 miles north-east), Folkestone (7 miles east), Hythe (4 miles north-east), Tower Hamlets (14 miles north-east) and Hawkinge (8 miles north-east).
Near you in Donkey Street
In Donkey Street, that means homes and buildings near The Shepherd And Crook Public House. For rail, the closest station is Westenhanger station, about 3.4 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Lympne Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Hythe Museum (3.6 miles east). For a walk, there is Tolsford Hill.