Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Minster, Kent
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Minster. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Minster
If you’re buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s often not the individual flat owner, with costs frequently passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. If the building has a flat roof, we check that too where access allows. We survey natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings and valleys, and the problems we are asked to look at most are gutters choked with leaves and moss and worn or lifted lead flashings.
Some older homes in villages like Minster 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’s worth knowing which applies. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Minster (CT12)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Minster
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Minster, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. For landlords with property near Minster station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Minster is about 4 miles west of St Lawrence, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Minster for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Minster is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Surveys in CT12 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Cheney Road, Thorne Road and High Street. Other places close to Minster include Mount Pleasant (1 mile north-east), Way (1 mile east), Acol (2 miles north), Sevenscore (2 miles east) and Ebbsfleet (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (10 miles west), Margate (5 miles north-east), Dover (13 miles south), Ramsgate (4 miles east), Broadstairs (6 miles east) and Whitstable (12 miles west).
Around Minster
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Bell Inn, among other places. The nearest railway station is Minster station, about 0.5 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include RAF Manston History Museum (2.1 miles north-east) and Ramsgate General Hospital (4.4 miles east). Not far away are Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Minster, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Nearby places to Minster
More services for Minster
Minster: your questions answered
Is my home in Minster 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.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Minster?
It can do. Within about 4 miles of the sea, as Minster is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is Minster in your area?
Yes. We survey roofs in Minster and the rest of Kent. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there is safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
When to book a survey in Minster
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Quex Park, about 2.4 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Minster. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What experience they bring
- What they won’t be able to tell you
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents and landlords in Minster book surveys as well as householders. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
We confirm the price for your roof before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What to let us know when you contact us
These details help when you get in touch:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Practical tips
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photographs to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.