Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Knockholt, Kent
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Knockholt, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Why get it checked now?
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. For an older or listed building in a place like Knockholt, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Prices that include VAT
- 98% customer satisfaction
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Knockholt: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. Typical surveys look at gutters choked with leaves and moss and flashings that have lifted or split, across natural slate, chimney stacks and gutters and downpipes.
In a village or hamlet like Knockholt, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. 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.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Knockholt (TN14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
- Request records of any re-roofing
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Let us know your timetable
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, 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.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Nearby places to Knockholt
Other services in Knockholt
The survey, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Older rural homes like those around Knockholt can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- 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.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Booking a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Knockholt, phone 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
What we cannot see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If you are 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 we look at
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
Knockholt homes and their roofs
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. The wider area around Knockholt has a long history of building, with Down House about 2.7 miles north-west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
If you own a rental within reach of Knockholt station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. If you live in an older home near St Katharine's Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Knockholt is about 4 miles north-west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Knockholt and nearby. Across Kent, we cover Knockholt. You can also see our page for London.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: TN14. Streets in the area include Main Road and Blueberry Lane, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Knockholt: Knockholt Pound (1 mile north-east), Halstead (2 miles north-east), Sepham Heath (2 miles north-east), Pratt's Bottom (2 miles north) and Twitton (3 miles east). Larger places within reach include Dartford (11 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (4 miles south-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-east), Gravesend (14 miles north-east), Tonbridge (11 miles south-east) and Northfleet (13 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Knockholt
Around Knockholt, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Three Horseshoes pub, among other places. The closest station to Knockholt is Knockholt station, about 2.7 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Orpington Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Otford Heritage Centre (3.9 miles east). The countryside around Knockholt includes Betsom's Hill and Downe Bank.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Knockholt
Is Knockholt in the area you cover?
Yes, Knockholt is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you cover smaller places like Knockholt?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable when booking.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently 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 possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Knockholt
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The roof’s overall size
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Getting in touch
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.