Medway · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Kingsnorth, Medway
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Kingsnorth, with photos and a clear written report.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Old water stains in the loft space
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Kingsnorth?
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Look out for signs like these:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Around Kingsnorth, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Their report turnaround times
Pre-purchase roof survey in Kingsnorth
If you’re buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs frequently passed on through the service charge. We check 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 is checked as far as access allows. Common reasons to book are old water stains in the roof space and a ridge or slope that dips, across lead flashings and valleys, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Kingsnorth, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. 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. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Location
- Kingsnorth (ME3)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Kingsnorth
What else we do in Kingsnorth
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.
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.
When you need someone else
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Kingsnorth
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Kingsnorth
Kingsnorth is within about 1 mile of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For landlords with property near Gillingham (Kent) station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Kingsnorth is about 4 miles north of Gillingham, in Medway. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Kingsnorth for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Across Medway, we cover Kingsnorth. Maidstone is in our area too.
All of ME3 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Jetty Road and Jacob's Lane. We also cover the places around Kingsnorth: Tunbridge Hill (1 mile north), Sharnal Street (1 mile north-west), Fenn Street (1 mile north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (2 miles west) and High Halstow (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Gillingham (4 miles south), Chatham (6 miles south-west), Rochester (5 miles south-west), Rainham (5 miles south), Strood (6 miles south-west) and Luton (5 miles south-west).
What’s near Kingsnorth
For rail, the closest station is Gillingham (Kent) station, about 3.6 miles south-west. A little further out are Medway Maritime Hospital (4.2 miles south-west) and Upnor Castle (3.5 miles south-west). Not far away are Bishop Saltings.
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
The survey, step by step
Where it is 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. All in, the survey usually takes an hour or two at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a small place like Kingsnorth, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Kingsnorth: your questions answered
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Kingsnorth, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Will you come out to Kingsnorth?
Yes, Kingsnorth is covered. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we cannot promise any saving.