Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Fordwich, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Fordwich, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Surveys for landlords and agents in Fordwich
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.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Fordwich
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, natural slate and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are blocked or leaking gutters and a ridge or slope that dips.
Somewhere as small as Fordwich, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. 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.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Fordwich (CT2)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Fordwich?
Gutter problems frequently look minor from the street. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- A ridge or slope that dips
The streets around a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- Are they insured for the work?
- What experience they bring
- Is VAT included in the price?
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older roofs in small places like Fordwich can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
Buying a home or a new roof in Fordwich
Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list.
For landlords with property near Sturry station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Fordwich is about 2 miles north-east of Canterbury, in Kent. From houses to flats and shops in Fordwich, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our Kent coverage includes Fordwich and the places around it.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CT2. You will find streets such as Brooklands Close, Water Meadows and King Street. Close by, we survey roofs in Littlebourne (2 miles south-east), Bekesbourne Hill (2 miles south), Wickhambreaux (3 miles east), Ickham (3 miles south-east) and Patrixbourne (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Margate (13 miles north-east), Dover (13 miles south-east), Folkestone (15 miles south), Ramsgate (13 miles east), Broadstairs (14 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Fordwich
Around Fordwich, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Frank Montgomery School, Chequer's Wood and Old Park and Fordwich Arms and the streets around them. Fordwich has its own railway station: Sturry station. Well-known places in the area include Whitefriars Shopping Centre (2.4 miles south-west) and St Martins Hospital (1.5 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s West Blean and Thornden Woods.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Height and safe access
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
What to let us know when you get in touch
We’ll usually ask about:
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- When you need the report by
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Book once your offer is accepted
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
FAQs for Fordwich
Will you come out to Fordwich?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Fordwich?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Fordwich is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable as you book.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
How do I book a survey in Fordwich?
Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
Places near Fordwich
What else we do in Fordwich
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, typically to the back of the house. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.