Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Marley, Kent
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Marley. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Marley: what you get
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. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you are worried about damp timbers or stains in the loft and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and chimney stacks alike.
For a small place like Marley, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on any day of the week.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Marley (ME17)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, it usually takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Rural addresses near Marley can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
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Surveys for landlords and agents in Marley
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Marley: your questions answered
Is my home in Marley listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you come out to Marley?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
How quickly will I get the report?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
When to book a survey in Marley
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
For landlords with property near Harrietsham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What happens after the report arrives
Towns and villages near Marley
Also in Marley
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Marley
Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Historic houses like Leeds Castle, about 2.5 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Marley goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For an older house near a landmark such as St John the Baptist's Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Marley is about 7 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. Wherever you are in Marley, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Marley is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Here we cover the ME17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets like Parks Road, Young Lane and Church Lane, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Marley: Harrietsham (1 mile west), Pollhill (1 mile west), Sandway (1 mile south-east), Platt's Heath (1 mile south) and Chegworth (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (7 miles west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (7 miles north), Faversham (10 miles north-east), Minster (13 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (12 miles west).
Local landmarks in Marley
In Marley, that means homes and buildings near The Lenham School, The Roebuck Public House and Kiln Wood and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Harrietsham station, roughly 0.6 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Leeds Castle (2.5 miles west) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.4 miles west).
Leave it or get it looked at?
Sellers aren’t always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. In a place like Marley, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
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 choose Independent Roof Survey in Marley
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- 20+ years’ experience
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
What we cannot see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles