Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ide Hill, Kent
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Ide Hill. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Ide Hill
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a careful look at it before you’re committed. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there is safe access. You get a photo-illustrated written report. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, natural slate and the roof space, and people most often book us about signs of past leaks inside the loft and slipped or missing slates and tiles.
Somewhere as small as Ide Hill, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- Ide Hill (TN14)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Ide Hill
Do you cover smaller places like Ide Hill?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Ide Hill is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. 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.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when booking.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
Nearby places to Ide Hill
Other services in Ide Hill
Checking the roof from the ground
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
How it works
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older roofs in small places like Ide Hill can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- 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.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Related advice
Local roofs and buyers in Ide Hill
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary at South End of Village Green, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. If you own a rental within reach of Sevenoaks station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. With Chartwell about 2.1 miles west, the area around Ide Hill has a long history. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Ide Hill is about 3 miles south-west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. From houses to flats and shops in Ide Hill, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Ide Hill is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
Surveys in TN14 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Hanging Bank and Camberwell Lane, all of which we cover. Main roads around Ide Hill include the B2042, which makes travel easy. We also cover the places around Ide Hill: Goathurst Common (1 mile north-east), Toy's Hill (1 mile west), Brasted Chart (2 miles north-west), Sundridge (2 miles north) and Brasted (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Dartford (14 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles south-east), Tonbridge (7 miles south-east), Swanley (11 miles north) and Kings Hill (12 miles east).
Landmarks near Ide Hill
Around Ide Hill, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Stubbs Wood Country Park and The Cock Inn and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Sevenoaks station, about 3.1 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find Sevenoaks Museum (3.3 miles north-east) and Sevenoaks Hospital (4.1 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Dryhill Nature Reserve and Betsom's Hill.
Useful tips for Ide Hill property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Tell us your exchange date as you book
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Ide Hill
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How big the roof is
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 which survey you book.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- What made you get in touch
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, frequently over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.