Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Northdown, Kent
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Northdown. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a smaller place like Northdown, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Northdown, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof survey in Northdown
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. If you’re worried about cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and standing water on a flat extension roof, we can find out what’s behind it, on gutters and downpipes, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate alike.
Smaller places like Northdown often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you are buying in Northdown or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Northdown (CT9, CT10)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The roof’s overall size
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- What kind of property and roof it is
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
What we cannot see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- A structural engineer’s report
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Northdown. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Towns and villages near Northdown
Other services in Northdown
Local roofs and buyers in Northdown
Northdown lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, so exposed details get a close look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Historic houses such as Quex Park, about 4.5 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Northdown goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
If you live in an older home near St Philip, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. For landlords with property near Broadstairs station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Northdown is about 2 miles east of Margate, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Northdown for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Every address in CT9 and CT10 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as Old Road, Holly Lane and Green Lane, and we cover them all. We also cover Palm Bay (1 mile north-west), Cliftonville (1 mile west), Kingsgate (1 mile east), St Peter's (1 mile south) and Broadstairs (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Ramsgate (3 miles south), Deal (12 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west), Walmer (13 miles south), St Lawrence (3 miles south) and Newington (3 miles south-west).
Near you in Northdown
Typical jobs here are in homes near Captain Digby Inn and Dane Court Grammar School, among other places. Northdown’s nearest station is Broadstairs station, about 1.8 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Westwood Cross (2.1 miles south-west) and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (1.4 miles south-west).
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Northdown questions
Will you come out to Northdown?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Northdown?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Northdown is within about 1 mile of the coast.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photos. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Do you use drones?
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). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.