Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hernhill, Kent
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Hernhill and the rest of Kent. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hernhill: what you get
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is frequently not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We look at as much of the roof as access safely allows, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. We survey natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys, and people most frequently book us about slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and loose pots and cracked flaunching.
In a village or hamlet like Hernhill, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Hernhill (ME13)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and lead is also a target for theft.
Natural slate
Older slate roofs often have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. From inside the loft space, we report what we can see of it.
Before and after the survey
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
What we do, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older rural homes like those around Hernhill can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Hernhill
Hernhill is within about 3 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Take an older house close to Church of St Michael: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. For landlords with property near Selling station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Hernhill is about 3 miles east of Faversham, in Kent. We survey roofs in Hernhill across London and South East England. Across Kent, we cover Hernhill. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in ME13 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Slutshole (1 mile south-west), Staplestreet (1 mile south-west), Dargate (1 mile north-east), Culmers (1 mile north-west) and Goodnestone (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (12 miles south), Canterbury (6 miles east), Sittingbourne (10 miles west), Whitstable (4 miles north-east), Faversham (3 miles west) and Herne Bay (8 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Hernhill
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Red Lion pub and Mount Ephraim Gardens and the streets around them. The closest station to Hernhill is Selling station, about 2.3 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Chilham Castle (4.5 miles south) and Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (5.3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Hernhill include Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Hernhill
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Hernhill?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Is my home in Hernhill listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What affects the price in Hernhill
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Places near Hernhill
Other services in Hernhill
Landlords, agents and block managers in Hernhill
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Checking the roof from the ground
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.