Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Speed Gate, Kent
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Speed Gate. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Speed Gate
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. Depending on the lease, roof repairs may fall to the building owner or a management company, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we check that too where access allows. Common reasons to book are chimney mortar that has eroded and gutters choked with leaves and moss, on flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and the roof space.
In a village or hamlet like Speed Gate, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Speed Gate (DA3)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Speed Gate: local notes
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses such as Lullingstone Castle, about 3.2 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Speed Gate goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
If you let a flat or house near Longfield station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Speed Gate is about 5 miles south of Dartford, in Kent. Anywhere in Speed Gate, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Every address in DA3 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you are just outside Speed Gate, we cover Fawkham Green (1 mile south-east), West Yoke (1 mile east), Ash (1 mile south-east), Maplescombe (2 miles south-west) and West Kingsdown (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles south-east), Dartford (5 miles north), Sevenoaks (7 miles south-west), Gravesend (6 miles north-east), Tonbridge (12 miles south) and Northfleet (5 miles north-east).
What’s near Speed Gate
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Rising Sun pub, among other places. The closest station to Speed Gate is Longfield station, about 2.3 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Darent Valley Hospital (4.5 miles north) and Eynsford Castle (2.4 miles west).
Speed Gate: your questions answered
Do you cover Speed Gate?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Speed Gate as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you come out to Speed Gate?
Yes, Speed Gate is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
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 is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Do you need to go inside the property?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Nearby places to Speed Gate
More services for Speed Gate
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older rural homes like those around Speed Gate can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Advice
Why act early in Speed Gate
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit seven days a week, and a Premium report comes the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Outbuildings and barns around Speed Gate are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- A report with photographs
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
What we cannot see
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we cannot promise any result.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from the ground are enough for a first look.