Kent · London and the South East
Etchinghill Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Etchinghill, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Etchinghill
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That is when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. If you are worried about signs of past leaks inside the loft and patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Etchinghill may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Etchinghill (CT18)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings, as far as we can see them safely.
Tips from our surveys
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask for loft access on the day
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Etchinghill
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Etchinghill homes and their roofs
Etchinghill lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
Historic houses such as Acrise Place, about 2.4 miles north-east, show how far back building around Etchinghill goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. If you let a flat or house near Sandling station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Etchinghill is about 3 miles north of Hythe, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Etchinghill for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Etchinghill is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. There’s also a page for Canterbury.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CT18. You will find streets such as St Marys Close, Meriden Walk and St Marys Drive, and we cover them all. If you are just outside Etchinghill, we cover Lyminge (1 mile north), Postling (1 mile west), Woodland (2 miles north-west), Skeete (2 miles north-west) and Ottinge (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Ashford (10 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (9 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-east), Deal (15 miles north-east) and Hythe (3 miles south).
Near you in Etchinghill
In Etchinghill, that means homes and buildings near Brockhill Park Performing Arts College and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Sandling station, about 2 miles south-west. Nearby you will also find Royal Victoria Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (1.4 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Tolsford Hill.
Also in Etchinghill
Common questions in Etchinghill
Is the coastal weather around Etchinghill hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Is my home in Etchinghill listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes, you can. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes about one to two 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.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We’re 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 the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a small place like Etchinghill, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Natural slate