Medway · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Higham, Medway
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Lower Higham, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Lower Higham
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from ground level, windows and the loft instead. If you are worried about cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Lower Higham are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Place
- Lower Higham (ME3)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
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, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. Outbuildings and barns around Lower Higham are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book us in Lower Higham
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- PI and public liability insurance
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked, as far as we can see them safely.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Lower Higham
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
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.
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.
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. Around Lower Higham, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Read more
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Lower Higham: local notes
Lower Higham lies within about 3 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 high wind or heavy rain. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Mary's Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. For landlords with property near Higham station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. Historic houses such as Temple Manor, about 3 miles south, show how far back building around Lower Higham goes. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Lower Higham is about 3 miles north-west of Rochester, in Medway. We cover Lower Higham and the rest of Medway. Across Medway, we cover Lower Higham. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Here we cover the ME3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Canal Road, Chalk Road and Chequers Street and the roads around them. We also cover Church Street (1 mile north), Higham (1 mile south), Mockbeggar (1 mile east), Gadshill (1 mile south) and Cliffe Woods (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (6 miles south-east), Chatham (6 miles south-east), Rochester (3 miles south-east), Rainham (8 miles south-east), Strood (3 miles south) and Luton (5 miles south-east).
Around Lower Higham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Strood Academy, Broomhill Park and The Chequers pub. There’s a railway station in Lower Higham itself: Higham station. A little further out are French Hospital (3.3 miles south-east) and Upnor Castle (3.1 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
Questions from Lower Higham
Is my home in Lower Higham listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is the coastal weather around Lower Higham hard on roofs?
It can do. Lower Higham is within about 3 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photos.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Is Lower Higham in your area?
Yes. We cover Lower Higham and the rest of Medway. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Places near Lower Higham
More services for Lower Higham
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys