Medway · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hempstead, Medway
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Hempstead, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Hempstead
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. If you are worried about gutters choked with leaves and moss and slipped or missing slates and tiles, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Around Hempstead, you’ll mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Hempstead (ME7, ME8)
- Region
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
What we do, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Being in a smaller place like Hempstead doesn’t change how the visit works: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. It’s useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- 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 inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or email us when you’re ready.
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What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Helping us price your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Hempstead homes and their roofs
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Hempstead, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Rochester Airport is about 3 miles from Hempstead. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Landlords with a home close to Rainham (Kent) station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near All Saints Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Hempstead is about 2 miles south of Gillingham, in Medway. In Hempstead, as across Medway, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Medway, large and small. Maidstone is in our area too.
We cover every part of the ME7 and ME8 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Harrow Road, Spekes Road and Capstone Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. You’ll find Hempstead on the A278, which makes it simple to reach. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Capstone (1 mile north-west), Darland (1 mile north-west), Wigmore (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north-west) and Park Wood (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Rochester (4 miles north-west), Strood (5 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north), Chatham Waterfront (3 miles north-west), Rochester Riverside (4 miles north-west) and Peters Village (5 miles west).
Local landmarks in Hempstead
Around Hempstead, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Rainham School for Girls, Howard School and South Wood. Hempstead’s nearest station is Rainham (Kent) station, roughly 2.1 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Pentagon Shopping Centre (3 miles north-west) and Medway megaliths (3.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
What we’re asked to look at in Hempstead
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Restoration House lies about 3.8 miles north-west, so building around Hempstead goes back a long way. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
What to check before booking
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
Other services in Hempstead
Questions from Hempstead
Are there drone restrictions around Hempstead?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Hempstead is about 3 miles from Rochester Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Hempstead?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details like ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Hempstead is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Do you cover Hempstead for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, Hempstead included.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Hempstead
Sellers aren’t always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now, whatever anyone remembers. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like Hempstead, so it’s useful to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
What you get with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.