Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Small Hythe
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Small Hythe and across Kent.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older roofs in small places like Small Hythe can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Note where any stains or damp appear
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Related advice
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Small Hythe
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side. If you’ve noticed gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and loose pots and cracked flaunching, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Small Hythe, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Small Hythe (TN30)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking.
Small Hythe homes and their roofs
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
The streets around a church such as Church of St John the Baptist are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Small Hythe is about 10 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. In Small Hythe, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
All of TN30 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around Small Hythe: Broad Tenterden (1 mile north), Tenterden (2 miles north), Strood (2 miles north-west), Rolvenden Layne (3 miles west) and Rolvenden (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Ashford (10 miles north-east), Park Wood (15 miles north-west), Kennington (12 miles north-east), New Romney (11 miles east), Staplehurst (11 miles north-west) and Stanhope (9 miles north-east).
Around Small Hythe
Well-known places in the area include Benenden Hospital (4.8 miles north-west) and Smallhythe Place (less than half a mile south). For a walk, there’s Flatropers Wood.
Common roof problems in Small Hythe
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It’s frequently found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We don’t test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
Common reasons to book include:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
With Smallhythe Place about 0.2 miles south, the area around Small Hythe has a long history. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Small Hythe
How do I find out if my home in Small Hythe is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Is Small Hythe within the area you cover?
Yes. Small Hythe is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when you book.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it normally takes between one and two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
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, and the report makes that clear.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Small Hythe
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Places near Small Hythe
Other services in Small Hythe
Why get it checked now?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. Older cottages and farmhouses around Small Hythe can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Every price we give includes VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before you book.
Why us?
- 98% customer satisfaction
- An independent view of the roof
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
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.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.