Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in River, Kent
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in River, with photos and a clear written report.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Common questions in River
Will you come out to River?
Yes, River is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in River listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you need access inside the house?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in River?
Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the building owner or managing agent. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Pre-purchase roof survey in River
We survey roofs for buyers in River and across London and the South East. Whether it’s a terrace, a semi, a detached house or a flat, the roof gets the same careful look. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We survey the roof space, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles, and people most frequently book us about old water stains in the roof space and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney.
In a smaller place like River, homes are mostly houses and bungalows, from older cottages to more recent builds. Older roofs may still have their original slates or clay tiles, with fixings and underlay that have done a long stint. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs frequently have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- River (CT17, CT16)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
More services for River
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Gutters and parapets
Hidden gutters behind parapets send water indoors when they block. We look at their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
What affects the price in River
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The roof’s overall size
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Booking your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- 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 email us.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a smaller place like River, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in River
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Natural slate
Buying a home or a new roof in River
River lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
Landlords with a home close to Kearsney station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Peter, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
River is about 1 mile north-west of Dover, in Kent. We survey roofs in River and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in CT17 and CT16 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Lower Road, Minnis Lane and London Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside River, we cover Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile north-west), Dover (1 mile south-east), Whitfield (1 mile north-east) and Maxton (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north-east), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (10 miles south-west) and Walmer (7 miles north-east).
Around River
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Edmund's Catholic School, Old Park Hill and Royal Oak Cottage The Royal Oak Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Kearsney station, about 0.5 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Crabble Corn Mill (less than half a mile south-east) and Dover Castle (2.2 miles south-east). The countryside around River includes Dover Western Heights.