Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Stowting
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Stowting, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Stowting
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, we can find out what’s behind it.
For a small place like Stowting, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Stowting (TN25)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Stowting homes and their roofs
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
For landlords with property near Westenhanger station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Stowting is about 5 miles north-west of Hythe, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Stowting for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Across Kent, we cover Stowting and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Here we cover the TN25 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Stowting Hill and Scot's Lane. Close by, we survey roofs in Stowting Common (1 mile north), Hemsted (1 mile east), Skeete (1 mile south-east), Woodland (1 mile east) and Rhodes Minnis (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Ashford (7 miles west), Canterbury (10 miles north), Dover (11 miles east), Folkestone (7 miles south-east), Whitstable (15 miles north) and Faversham (14 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Stowting
In Stowting, that means homes and buildings near Spong Wood. The nearest railway station is Westenhanger station, roughly 3.1 miles south. Nearby you will also find William Harvey Hospital (5.3 miles west) and Saltwood Castle (4.6 miles south-east). Not far away are Hatch Park and Tolsford Hill.
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Somewhere as small as Stowting, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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When to book a survey in Stowting
Chimneys take the worst of the weather. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which matters if work is needed.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Old water stains in the loft space
- A ridge or slope that dips
Historic houses like Westenhanger Castle, about 3.2 miles south, show how far back building around Stowting goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photographs to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from the ground are enough for a first look.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Stowting questions
How do I find out if my home in Stowting is listed?
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.
Is Stowting in the area you cover?
Yes, Stowting is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Places near Stowting
What else we do in Stowting
What we cannot see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
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. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Why act early in Stowting
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. Around Stowting, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Stowting
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.