Kent · London and the South East
Martin Mill Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Martin Mill. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Martin Mill
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. Typical surveys look at slipped or missing slates and tiles and damp timbers or stains in the loft, across the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys.
Somewhere as small as Martin Mill, 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. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Martin Mill (CT15)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes between one and two hours for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Somewhere like Martin Mill needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Getting a price
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
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Landlord and commercial surveys in Martin Mill
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What this survey cannot tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
Martin Mill homes and their roofs
Martin Mill lies within about 2 miles of the sea, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. The wider area around Martin Mill has a long history of building, with Walmer Castle about 3.1 miles north-east. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Augustine, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you let a flat or house near Martin Mill station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Martin Mill is about 3 miles north-east of Dover, in Kent. Wherever you are in Martin Mill, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Kent. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Here we cover the CT15 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Station Road, Barley Close and Lucerne Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Martin (1 mile north-west), East Langdon (1 mile west), West Cliffe (1 mile south), West Langdon (1 mile north-west) and Ringwould (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (14 miles north-west), Margate (15 miles north), Dover (3 miles south-west), Folkestone (10 miles south-west), Ramsgate (12 miles north) and Broadstairs (14 miles north).
Landmarks near Martin Mill
Typical jobs here are in homes near Duke of York's Royal Military School and The Lantern Inn. Martin Mill has its own railway station: Martin Mill station. Well-known places in the area include Royal Victoria Hospital (3.4 miles south-west) and Dover Castle (3.1 miles south). Not far away are Dover Western Heights.
Useful tips for Martin Mill property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
DIY checks: what’s safe
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. Do not go up yourself.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Places near Martin Mill
What else we do in Martin Mill
Martin Mill: your questions answered
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Martin Mill?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Is my home in Martin Mill listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Do you cover Martin Mill for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes, we do. Martin Mill is part of the area we cover, and the service is the same as everywhere else we work.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
How do I book a survey in Martin Mill?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.