Kent · London and the South East
Kemsley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Kemsley.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Buying a home or a new roof in Kemsley
Kemsley lies within about 2 miles of the sea, 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. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Landlords with a home close to Kemsley station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Kemsley is about 1 mile north of Sittingbourne, in Kent. Kemsley gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Kemsley is one of the places in Kent we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Every address in ME10 and ME9 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Court Road, Menin Road and Hurst Lane and the roads around them. Other places close to Kemsley include Howt Green (1 mile west), Milton Regis (1 mile south-east), Sittingbourne (1 mile south), Iwade (1 mile north-west) and Murston (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles south-west), Whitstable (13 miles east), Faversham (7 miles south-east), Minster (5 miles north-east), Davington (7 miles south-east) and Foley Park (10 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Kemsley
Around Kemsley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Milton Creek Country Park, The Three Hats Inn and Borden Grammar School and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Kemsley itself: Kemsley station. Other landmarks nearby include Castle Rough (0.6 miles east) and Court Hall Museum (0.8 miles south-west).
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Kemsley
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photos that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We are often asked to look into bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, on the roof space, lead flashings and valleys and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Houses in smaller places like Kemsley can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, so their roofs may take more wind and driving rain. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather usually shows first. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are checked closely. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof does not stay small for long.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Kemsley (ME10, ME9)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. With lower homes, common in places like Kemsley, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Why book us in Kemsley
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% customer satisfaction
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We’ll say if the flue needs a specialist.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Kemsley?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What they won’t be able to tell you
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A structural engineer’s report
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
Places near Kemsley
More services for Kemsley
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Kemsley
Is Kemsley within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Kemsley is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Kemsley?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Book once your offer is accepted
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. On timing, it typically takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a smaller place like Kemsley, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can frequently be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where it applies.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Before the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.