Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Harrietsham
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Harrietsham. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Harrietsham
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. At that point you can still ask questions, while you are not yet committed. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 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’ve noticed gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and chimney mortar that has eroded, we can find out what’s behind it.
Smaller places like Harrietsham frequently have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Harrietsham. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
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.
- Place
- Harrietsham (ME17)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Harrietsham
Also in Harrietsham
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Harrietsham
Will you come out to Harrietsham?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Harrietsham?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we can’t promise any saving.
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Local roofs and buyers in Harrietsham
The wider area around Harrietsham has a long history of building, with Leeds Castle about 2.2 miles west. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you let a flat or house near Harrietsham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Harrietsham is about 7 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. We survey roofs in Harrietsham and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Here we cover the ME17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Church Road, Station Road and Norris Walk, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Marley (1 mile east), Pollhill (1 mile west), Chegworth (1 mile west), Sandway (1 mile south-east) and Platt's Heath (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (7 miles west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (7 miles north), Faversham (10 miles north-east), Minster (13 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (12 miles west).
Near you in Harrietsham
Around Harrietsham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Kiln Wood, The Lenham School and The Roebuck Public House and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in Harrietsham itself: Harrietsham station. Nearby you will also find The Dog Collar Museum (2.1 miles west) and Leeds Castle (2.2 miles west).
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and lead is also a target for theft.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Harrietsham
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. It’s frequently found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Take an older house close to Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Their insurance cover
- What experience they bring
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Harrietsham
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The size of the roof
- Building height and the viewpoints available
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- When you need the report by
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes between one and two hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. A visit to Harrietsham is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed beforehand. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Getting a price
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.