Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Northwood, Kent
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Northwood, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Pre-purchase roof survey in Northwood: what you get
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s often not the individual flat owner, with costs often 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. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. Typical surveys look at patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, on lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and gutters and downpipes.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Northwood, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from ground level, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around Northwood. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Northwood (CT12, CT10, CT11)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we look at each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
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.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Also near Northwood
More services for Northwood
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Northwood homes and their roofs
Northwood lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. About 3.6 miles west lies Quex Park, a reminder of how long the area around Northwood has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
For landlords with property near Ramsgate station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Northwood is about 1 mile north-west of Ramsgate, in Kent. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Northwood. Across Kent, we cover Northwood and the places around it. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across the CT12, CT10 and CT11 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Gwyn Road, Coxes Lane and Roman Road and the roads around them. With the A254 and A256 close by, Northwood is simple for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Ramsgate (1 mile south-east), Upton (1 mile east), St Lawrence (1 mile south), St Peter's (1 mile north-east) and Broadstairs (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (15 miles west), Dover (15 miles south), Deal (9 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west), Walmer (10 miles south) and Wincheap (15 miles west).
Local landmarks in Northwood
Around Northwood, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Derby Arms, The Charles Dickens School and The Royal Harbour Academy and the streets around them. Northwood’s nearest station is Ramsgate station, roughly 0.8 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Westwood Cross (0.5 miles north-west) and Ramsgate Museum (1.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Northwood include Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
What we are asked to look at in Northwood
The fixings and underlay frequently fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. It’s a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Take an older house close to St Mark's Church: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How soon the report will arrive
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Is VAT included in the price?
What we do, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Parking around Northwood is usually easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can often be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- 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.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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Northwood questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Northwood, take more of a battering?
It can do. Within about 2 miles of the sea, as Northwood is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do you cover smaller places like Northwood?
Yes. Northwood is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow about one to two hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We’ll give you an idea of timing when booking.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.