Kent · London and the South East
Matfield Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Matfield, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen. The survey normally takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Around Matfield, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Matfield
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where it applies, along with a same-day report. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. Typical surveys look at quick fixes on flashings and valleys and flashings that have lifted or split, across gutters and downpipes, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and the roof space.
Older buildings in small places like Matfield may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Matfield (TN12)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Matfield: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Matfield is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover smaller places like Matfield?
Yes, Matfield is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the roof space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is typically arranged through the agent or seller.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it normally takes an hour or two for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Also in Matfield
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
A lot can be seen 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.
Buying a home or a new roof in Matfield
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. With Scotney Castle about 4.5 miles south, Matfield sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Paddock Wood station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Matfield is about 5 miles east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Roofs in Matfield get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Matfield is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: TN12. You’ll find streets like Standings Close, Homebush Green and Chestnut Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Petteridge (1 mile south-east), Brenchley (1 mile east), Colt's Hill (1 mile north-west), Key's Green (2 miles south-west) and Paddock Wood (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (12 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (5 miles west), Tonbridge (5 miles north-west), Kings Hill (8 miles north) and Foley Park (11 miles north-east).
What’s near Matfield
We work in homes and buildings around The Poet at Matfield pub, Brenchley Wood and Mascalls School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Paddock Wood station, roughly 2.1 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Tunbridge Wells Hospital (2.9 miles west) and The Hop Farm Museum (3.1 miles north). Not far away are Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- How big the roof is
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Height and safe access
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Booking your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Matfield?
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
The streets around a church such as Ebenezer Church (Matfield) are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Before you book anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Their insurance cover
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide.