Kent · London and the South East
The Stocks Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in The Stocks. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Pre-purchase roof survey in The Stocks
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. If you’ve noticed gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and damp timbers or stains in the loft, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and natural slate alike.
Some older homes in villages like The Stocks are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- The Stocks (TN30)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around The Stocks
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Parish Church of St John the Baptist, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Landlords with a home close to Rye station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. Smallhythe Place, about 2 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around The Stocks. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
The Stocks is about 11 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in The Stocks. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
All of TN30 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Stocks Road, Budd's Lane and Wittersham Road or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around The Stocks: Acton (1 mile north), Wittersham (1 mile west), Stone Corner (1 mile north), Stone in Oxney (2 miles east) and Reading Street (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (11 miles north-east), Tenterden (4 miles north), Kennington (13 miles north-east), New Romney (10 miles east), Staplehurst (13 miles north-west) and Stanhope (10 miles north-east).
Around The Stocks
We work in homes and buildings around The Ewe And Lamb Inn, among other places. The Stocks’s nearest station is Rye station, about 4.2 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Smallhythe Place (2 miles north-west) and Ypres Tower (4.4 miles south). For a walk, there’s Flatropers Wood.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Landlords, agents and block managers in The Stocks
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Letting agents and landlords in The Stocks book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in The Stocks
Do you carry out roof surveys in The Stocks?
We do. The survey and report are the same in The Stocks as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in The Stocks is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in The Stocks?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Places near The Stocks
Other services in The Stocks
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
How it works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes about one to two hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a hamlet or village like The Stocks, 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. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in The Stocks, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.