Kent · London and the South East
Hemsted Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Hemsted from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Hemsted
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. We survey clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and chimney stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and signs of past leaks inside the loft.
For a small place like Hemsted, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Hemsted (CT18)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Hemsted property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Request records of any re-roofing
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Towns and villages near Hemsted
Other services in Hemsted
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Common roof problems in Hemsted
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It’s frequently found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
Landlords with a home close to Westenhanger station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Before booking anyone
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- When you’ll get the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
What happens on the day
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Rural addresses near Hemsted can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Hemsted
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Buying a home or a new roof in Hemsted
Hemsted lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, so exposed details get a proper look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. With Westenhanger Castle about 3.1 miles south, Hemsted sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Hemsted is about 5 miles north of Hythe, in Kent. Whether the building in Hemsted is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
We survey roofs across CT18 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Woodland (1 mile south-east), Skeete (1 mile south), Stowting (1 mile west), Rhodes Minnis (1 mile north-east) and Stowting Common (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Ashford (8 miles west), Canterbury (10 miles north), Dover (11 miles east), Folkestone (6 miles south-east), Whitstable (15 miles north) and Faversham (14 miles north-west).
Near you in Hemsted
Hemsted’s nearest station is Westenhanger station, roughly 2.9 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Saltwood Castle (4 miles south) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (3.7 miles south-east). Not far away are Hatch Park and Tolsford Hill.
Hemsted questions
Will you come out to Hemsted?
Yes, Hemsted is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Hemsted?
It can do. Within about 5 miles of the sea, as Hemsted is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
How long does the survey visit take?
It typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings.
How do I book a survey in Hemsted?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll suggest the right survey. Surveys run on any day of the week.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Hemsted
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.