Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Otham
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Otham, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Pre-purchase roof survey in Otham: what you get
We survey roofs for buyers in Otham and across London and the South East. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, the roof gets the same careful look. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. If you’ve noticed gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, we can find out what’s behind it, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, chimney stacks and the roof space alike.
In a smaller place like Otham, some houses face open ground, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are checked closely. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Otham (ME15, ME17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Otham
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. That kind of wear is common on older roofs.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Flashings that have lifted or split
If you live in an older home near St Nicholas's Church, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before you book anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What insurance they carry
Towns and villages near Otham
Other services in Otham
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around Otham, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Leave a clear route to the loft
How to book
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Otham, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Honest limits
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs frequently last half a century or longer. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
Otham homes and their roofs
The wider area around Otham has a long history of building, with Stoneacre about 0.6 miles north-east. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you let a flat or house near Bearsted station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Otham is about 2 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Otham can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our Kent coverage includes Otham and the places around it.
Every address in ME15 and ME17 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Church Road, Spartall Drive and Ellis Field. Other places close to Otham include Willington (1 mile north-west), Park Wood (1 mile south-west), Langley (1 mile south-east), Shepway (1 mile north-west) and Caring (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west), Gravesend (15 miles north-west), Tonbridge (13 miles west) and Faversham (15 miles east).
Landmarks near Otham
Around Otham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near New Line Learning Academy, Senacre Wood Primary School and Mote Park. For rail, the closest station is Bearsted station, roughly 2.1 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Kent Fire Brigade Museum (2.4 miles west) and KIMS hospital (2.8 miles north). Not far away are Detling Hill.
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. Blocked gutters on homes around Otham overflow and soak walls, especially where trees overhang. Dealing with the cause is simple; drying out a wall is not.
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
What you get with us
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Otham: your questions answered
Is Otham within the area you cover?
Yes, Otham is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Is Otham in the area you cover?
Yes, Otham is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Otham as anywhere else.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable when you book.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.