Medway · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Gillingham
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Gillingham and the rest of Medway. We survey on any day of the week.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. For a property in Gillingham, it is useful to know where we can park. On the day, we look at the roof from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe, with the drone where it applies.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Gillingham
If you’re buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. We survey the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate, and the problems we are asked to look at most are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and slipped or missing slates and tiles.
Buying in a busy place like Gillingham can mean moving fast, and a roof is easy to overlook on a viewing. A new or replacement roof can also look neat from the pavement and still have snags at ridges, valleys or flashings. A written report before you commit gives you specific points to take back to the seller or the roofer.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Gillingham (ME8, ME7, ME4, ME5)
- Region
- Medway
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Gillingham
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
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, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
FAQs for Gillingham
Do you carry out roof surveys in Gillingham?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Gillingham as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Gillingham?
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.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
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 you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Gillingham
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What we look for on each type of roof
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Why get it checked now?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. A survey fills that gap before you commit, with photos of anything that needs attention. For a shop, office or block in Gillingham, a roof leak can mean closed rooms, damaged stock or unhappy residents. It’s easier to plan work than to react to it.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Why book us in Gillingham
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Prices that include VAT
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Gillingham
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Gillingham, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. 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. 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. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you live in an older home near Holy Trinity Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Landlords with a home close to Gillingham (Kent) station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Historic houses such as Restoration House, about 3.3 miles west, show how far back building around Gillingham 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.
Gillingham is about 30 miles east of London, in Medway. Bookings from Gillingham are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across Medway. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in ME8, ME7, ME4 and ME5 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Leeds Square, London Road and Dorset Square or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Being close to the A2 and A231, Gillingham is easy for us to reach. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Twydall (1 mile east), Lower Twydall (1 mile north-east), Grange (1 mile north), Darland (1 mile south-west) and Hale (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Rochester (4 miles west), Strood (4 miles west), Lordswood (3 miles south-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west) and Walderslade (3 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in Medway, Gillingham has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Near you in Gillingham
In Gillingham, that means homes and buildings near The Robert Napier School, The Robert Napier School and The Star pub, among other places. The closest station to Gillingham is Gillingham (Kent) station, about 1.5 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are Medway Maritime Hospital (1.6 miles west) and Six Poor Travellers House (3.3 miles west). The countryside around Gillingham includes Blue Bell Hill and Bishop Saltings.