Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Greatness, Kent
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Greatness from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Greatness
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That’s when the findings are most useful, while you’re not yet committed. 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. We survey lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are worn or lifted lead flashings and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
Houses in smaller places like Greatness can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, so their roofs may take more wind and driving rain. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. Whether you’re buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a proper look. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof doesn’t stay small for long.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Greatness (TN13, TN14, TN15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Parking around Greatness is usually easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a written report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Places near Greatness
Other services in Greatness
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
Buying a home or a new roof in Greatness
About 1.7 miles south lies Knole House, a reminder of how long the area around Greatness has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near St John the Baptist, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Greatness is about 1 mile north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Greatness for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Surveys in TN13, TN14 and TN15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets such as Seal Road, Mill Lane and Sandy Lane, all of which we cover. We also cover Seal (1 mile east), Godden Green (2 miles south-east), Styants Bottom (3 miles east), Bitchet Green (3 miles south-east) and Stone Street (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles east), Dartford (11 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles south), Gravesend (12 miles north-east), Tonbridge (7 miles south-east) and Northfleet (12 miles north-east).
What’s near Greatness
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Old Bat and Ball pub, Wildernesse School and Knole Academy and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Greatness itself: Bat & Ball station. A little further out are Sevenoaks Museum (1.3 miles south) and Kemsing Castle Bank (1.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Greatness include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now. Around Greatness, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, and that is a much bigger job than the original defect.
Every price we give includes VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Greatness
- Every finding written up with photos
- Prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 20+ years’ experience
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or our case studies.
Greatness questions
Is my home in Greatness listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Will you come out to Greatness?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Greatness?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send 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.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If we can’t get in, the report says so.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Greatness
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Common roof problems in Greatness
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. That kind of wear is common on older roofs.
Common reasons to book include:
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Landlords with a home close to Bat & Ball station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before you book
- What insurance they carry
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price