Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Herne Bay, Kent
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Herne Bay and across Kent, with plain-English findings.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
When you need someone else
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
Pre-purchase roof survey in Herne Bay: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. If you’ve noticed blistered or split felt on a flat roof and old water stains in the roof space, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a town the size of Herne Bay, most homes are houses rather than flats, so the roof is typically the owner’s alone to look after, apart from details shared with the house next door on semis and terraces. That makes the roof’s condition a simple money question: better found before exchange or final payment than after. A written report with photos gives you specific points to raise with the seller or the roofer.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Herne Bay (CT6)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. A visit in Herne Bay runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. If you will not be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- 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.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Tell us about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Read more
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Which survey package you book
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The size of the roof
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. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
We’ll typically ask about:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before it, you still have choices. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. On homes in Herne Bay, the joint between an extension and the house is where a slow leak tends to start. Left for a few seasons, it can spoil plaster, skirting and flooring inside.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What you get with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Herne Bay
Herne Bay lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
If you let a flat or house near Herne Bay station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Take an older house close to Christ Church: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Herne Bay is about 7 miles north of Canterbury, in Kent. Herne Bay is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Kent coverage includes Herne Bay. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
All of CT6 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on High Street, Viscount Square and Market Street or a nearby road, we can help. Main roads around Herne Bay include the A299 and B2205. Close by, we survey roofs in Hunters Forstal (1 mile south-east), Eddington (1 mile south-west), Broomfield (1 mile south-east), Herne (1 mile south) and Beltinge (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (7 miles south), Margate (11 miles east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east), Whitstable (5 miles west) and Deal (15 miles south-east).
What’s near Herne Bay
Around Herne Bay, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Herne Bay High School, Queen's Head Public House and Curtis Wood, among other places. The closest station to Herne Bay is Herne Bay station, roughly 0.7 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Tankerton Castle (4.3 miles west) and Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (3.6 miles west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Can I check my roof myself?
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 can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
FAQs for Herne Bay
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Herne Bay?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Herne Bay in the area you cover?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Herne Bay is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it’s safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the loft space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.