Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Dover
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Dover, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Dover
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and natural slate, and people most often book us about blocked or leaking gutters and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
Dover is the kind of town where older houses and newer estates sit side by side. Older roofs are frequently slate or clay tile, and many later houses have concrete interlocking tiles. Whether you’re buying or have just had a new roof, the checks depend on which you have. What sits under the tiles, from old felt to modern membranes, matters as much as the tiles themselves.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Dover (CT17, CT16, CT15, CT14)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Dover
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Nearby places to Dover
More services for Dover
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The size of the roof
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Getting in touch
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
- What made you get in touch
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What happens if roof problems are left?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. A defect spotted early can be planned and budgeted for, whereas a leak tends to force the timing on you, in Dover as anywhere.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Why us?
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Package prices that include VAT
- Photos and a written report every time
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
How the survey works
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes an hour or two for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. A survey in Dover needs access inside and out, including the loft hatch and any rooms with damp. Mention gates, side passages and anything at the back. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Dover
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Dover?
It can do. Dover is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Dover?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
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’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it typically takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it is safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Request records of any re-roofing
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. From inside the roof space, we report what we can see of it.
Dover homes and their roofs
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Dover, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
If you own a rental within reach of Dover Priory station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Parish Church of St Andrew Buckland, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Dover is in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Dover. Dover is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Surveys in CT17, CT16, CT15 and CT14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include London Road, High Street and Church Road, and we cover them all. Being close to the A2 and A20, Dover is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to Dover include River (1 mile north-west), Maxton (1 mile south), Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Whitfield (1 mile north) and Temple Ewell (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Canterbury (14 miles north-west), Folkestone (7 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (11 miles south-west) and Walmer (6 miles north-east). As one of the bigger places in Kent, Dover has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Landmarks near Dover
Around Dover, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Connaught Park, The Bull pub and St Edmund's Catholic School, among other places. Dover’s nearest station is Dover Priory station, roughly 0.9 miles south. A little further out are Dover Castle (1.3 miles south-east) and Crabble Corn Mill (0.7 miles west). Open spaces near Dover include Dover Western Heights.