Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Stowting Common, Kent
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Stowting Common.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Stowting Common
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. We survey chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and lead flashings and valleys, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are damp timbers or stains in the loft and gutters choked with leaves and moss.
Some older homes in villages like Stowting Common are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Stowting Common (TN25)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Older slate roofs frequently have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide.
Tips that help
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Local roofs and buyers in Stowting Common
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. 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. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Westenhanger Castle, about 3.7 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Stowting Common. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Stowting Common is about 6 miles north of Hythe, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Stowting Common and the surrounding area. Stowting Common is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in TN25 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Brabourne Lane and Stowting Hill and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Stowting (1 mile south), Hemsted (1 mile south-east), Skeete (2 miles south-east), Woodland (2 miles south-east) and Rhodes Minnis (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Ashford (7 miles west), Canterbury (9 miles north), Dover (12 miles east), Folkestone (7 miles south-east), Whitstable (14 miles north) and Faversham (13 miles north-west).
Around Stowting Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Spong Wood and the streets around them. Stowting Common’s nearest station is Westenhanger station, roughly 3.7 miles south. A little further out are William Harvey Hospital (5.1 miles west). For a walk, there’s Hatch Park and Tolsford Hill.
Questions from Stowting Common
Do you cover Stowting Common?
Yes, Stowting Common is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Will you come out to Stowting Common?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Tell us about it when booking and we will explain what’s needed.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: 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 else we do in Stowting Common
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Stowting Common?
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from the ground.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Landlords with a home close to Westenhanger station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What they won’t be able to tell you
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
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 before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
What we do, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. In a hamlet or village like Stowting Common, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- 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.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Stowting Common. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.