Kent · London and the South East
Tonbridge Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Tonbridge from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Tonbridge
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. If you’re worried about flashings that have lifted or split and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and clay and concrete tiles alike.
Tonbridge is the kind of town where older houses and newer estates sit side by side. Older roofs are often slate or clay tile, and many later houses have concrete interlocking tiles. Whether you are buying or have just had a new roof, the checks depend on which you have. What sits under the tiles, from old felt to modern membranes, matters as much as the tiles themselves.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Tonbridge (TN9, TN10, TN11)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey normally takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Parking in a town like Tonbridge is typically simple, but tell us if there’s a driveway or any restrictions. We check the roof from the ground and from windows, then from the loft where there’s safe access.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What we can’t see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Tonbridge
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Tonbridge
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Tonbridge?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
How should I get ready for a visit in Tonbridge?
Very little. Keep pets out of the way, leave side gates unlocked and have any old roof paperwork handy, and the visit in Tonbridge can get straight on.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Tonbridge?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
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.
Also near Tonbridge
More services for Tonbridge
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Tonbridge?
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’s a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from the ground.
Problems we come across often include:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
For landlords with property near Tonbridge station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
What to check before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Buying a home or a new roof in Tonbridge
Historic houses like Ightham Mote, about 4.1 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Tonbridge goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Peter and St Paul, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Tonbridge is about 12 miles south-west of Maidstone, in Kent. We visit Tonbridge as part of our work across Kent, for homes and businesses alike. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in TN9, TN10 and TN11 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on High Street, Old London Road and London Road or a nearby road, we can help. Being close to the A26 and A227, Tonbridge is simple for us to get to. Other places close to Tonbridge include Lower Haysden (2 miles south-west), Leigh (3 miles west), Bidborough (3 miles south-west), Southborough (3 miles south) and Printstile (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (12 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (7 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (4 miles south), Swanley (14 miles north), Kings Hill (7 miles north-east) and Foley Park (12 miles north-east).
What’s near Tonbridge
Around Tonbridge, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Haysden Country Park, Royal Rise Primary School and Hillview School for Girls. The nearest railway station is Tonbridge station, about 0.6 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find The Milne Museum (less than half a mile west) and Tonbridge Castle (under half a mile south-west). The countryside around Tonbridge includes Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve and Barden Lake.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Height and safe access
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
What we need to know
These details help when you get in touch:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- What’s prompted the survey
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Why it is worth a survey now in Tonbridge
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. Its job is to check the property’s value for the mortgage, not at the condition of each slate and flashing. Our survey is done for you. Extensions and dormers on homes around Tonbridge frequently hide the first signs of trouble at their joints with the main roof. A few wet winters later, it can mean new plaster and decorating as well as roof work.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we can help you choose.
Why book with us
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
Read what a roof survey costs or our case studies.