Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Hartlip, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Lower Hartlip, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Hartlip?
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. It’s frequently found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
People normally book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- A ridge or slope that dips
If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Will the report include photos?
- How soon the report will arrive
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Hartlip
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s frequently not the individual flat owner. We look at 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’s checked as far as access allows. Typical surveys look at ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and worn or lifted lead flashings, across lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and natural slate.
Somewhere as small as Lower Hartlip, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. 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.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Lower Hartlip (ME9)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we cannot promise any result.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Questions from Lower Hartlip
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Lower Hartlip?
It can do. Lower Hartlip is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Do you cover smaller places like Lower Hartlip?
Yes, Lower Hartlip is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Hartlip?
Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable as you book.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It isn’t a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
When you need someone else
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
Local roofs and buyers in Lower Hartlip
Lower Hartlip lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
If you own a rental within reach of Newington station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Lower Hartlip is about 3 miles south-east of Gillingham, in Kent. Anywhere in Lower Hartlip, we can come and survey your property. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Here we cover the ME9 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Lower Hartlip Road, Grainey Field and Old House Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to Lower Hartlip include Hartlip (1 mile west), Breach (1 mile north-east), Newington (1 mile east), Moor Street (1 mile north-west) and Meresborough (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (8 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (4 miles east), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Faversham (11 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles north-west) and Minster (8 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Lower Hartlip
In Lower Hartlip, that means homes and buildings near Foxburrow Wood and Leigh Academy Rainham, among other places. The closest station to Lower Hartlip is Newington station, about 1.1 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Court Hall Museum (3.8 miles east) and Bayford Court (4.3 miles east). Not far away are Detling Hill and Bishop Saltings.
How the survey works
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a hamlet or village like Lower Hartlip, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Lower Hartlip, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.