Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Newnham, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Newnham, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Newnham
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photos and recommendations. Common reasons to book are chimney mortar that has eroded and blocked or leaking gutters, on the roof space, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and chimney stacks.
Being in a small place like Newnham makes no difference to the inspection itself: 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. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Newnham (ME9)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. We fill that gap before you are tied in, with photos of anything that needs attention. Older cottages and farmhouses around Newnham can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why us?
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Weekday and weekend surveys
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Newnham
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Newnham?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is Newnham in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Newnham as anywhere else.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it is safe, yes. 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 it applies.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Newnham
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Checking the roof from the ground
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
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.
Places near Newnham
More services for Newnham
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Newnham: local notes
Historic houses such as Belmont House and Gardens, about 2.2 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Newnham goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. Landlords with a home close to Teynham station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Newnham is about 4 miles south-west of Faversham, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Newnham can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Newnham is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Surveys in ME9 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on The Street, Sharsted Hill and Newnham Lane. Close by, we survey roofs in Doddington (1 mile west), Wichling (2 miles west), Bluetown (2 miles west), Hollybushes (3 miles west) and Payden Street (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (12 miles west), Ashford (10 miles south), Canterbury (12 miles east), Sittingbourne (5 miles north-west), Whitstable (11 miles north-east) and Faversham (4 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Newnham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The George Inn and Doddington Place Gardens. The closest station to Newnham is Teynham station, roughly 3.4 miles north. Well-known places in the area include Newnham Castle (within half a mile north-east).
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The size of the roof
- House, block, shop or office
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
What we need to know
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- What made you get in touch
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
We survey roofs seven days a week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.
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.
How it works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can be seen safely, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. For a village or hamlet like Newnham, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.