Kent · London and the South East
Hillborough Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Hillborough and across Kent.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Hillborough, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is checked where it can be reached safely.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- 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 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.
How to prepare
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us a few details about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Hillborough
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We survey chimney stacks, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys, and people most often book us about quick fixes on flashings and valleys and signs of past leaks inside the loft.
Around Hillborough, you will mostly find houses and bungalows of different ages. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. Whether you are buying or have just had the roof replaced, that hidden layer is worth knowing about. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Hillborough (CT6)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. If a flue needs testing, we will suggest who to ask.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords, agents and building managers in Hillborough and across Kent can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or email us.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Tips that help
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
FAQs for Hillborough
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hillborough?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is the coastal weather around Hillborough hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Hillborough is within about 1 mile of the coast.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Do you work in Hillborough?
Yes. We cover Hillborough and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and the South East. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Hillborough
Hillborough is within about 1 mile of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. For landlords with property 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.
Hillborough is about 2 miles east of Herne Bay, in Kent. We cover Hillborough and the rest of Kent. Across Kent, we cover Hillborough and the places around it. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
All of CT6 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Manor Road, Puffin Road and Neville Road. Being close to the A299, Hillborough is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hawthorn (1 mile south-east), Bishopstone (1 mile north), Beltinge (1 mile north-west), Broomfield (1 mile south-west) and Highstead (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (7 miles south-west), Margate (9 miles east), Ramsgate (11 miles east), Broadstairs (11 miles east), Whitstable (6 miles west) and Deal (14 miles south-east).
Near you in Hillborough
Typical jobs here are in homes near Bishopstone Cliffs and The Huntsman And Horn Public House, among other places. The closest station to Hillborough is Herne Bay station, about 2.2 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (5.2 miles west). The countryside around Hillborough includes West Blean and Thornden Woods.