Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Hardres, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Lower Hardres, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Why get it checked now?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Around Lower Hardres, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why book us in Lower Hardres
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Lower Hardres
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and the roof space, and common reasons people get in touch are blistered or split felt on a flat roof and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing.
Somewhere as small as Lower Hardres, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Lower Hardres (CT4)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
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.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Hardres?
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. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
If you let a flat or house near Canterbury East station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What exactly goes into their report
- When you’ll get the report
- Their insurance cover
Landlords, agents and block managers in Lower Hardres
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Lower Hardres and across Kent can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Common questions in Lower Hardres
Do you carry out roof surveys in Lower Hardres?
Yes, Lower Hardres is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Lower Hardres as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Lower Hardres?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
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.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are 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 isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when booking.
How the survey works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. On timing, most surveys take about one to two hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Lower Hardres often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- 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.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Advice
Towns and villages near Lower Hardres
More services for Lower Hardres
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Lower Hardres: local notes
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Lower Hardres is about 3 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. Whether the building in Lower Hardres is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small.
We work across the CT4 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We also cover the places around Lower Hardres: Street End (1 mile north), Pett Bottom (1 mile south-east), Nackington (1 mile north), Upper Hardres (1 mile south) and Petham (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (3 miles north), Dover (12 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south), Whitstable (8 miles north) and Deal (14 miles east).
Near you in Lower Hardres
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Duck pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Canterbury East station, about 2.7 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Kent and Canterbury Hospital (2.2 miles north) and Whitefriars Shopping Centre (2.9 miles north). Not far away are Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are frequently the reason.