Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Upper Harbledown, Kent
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Upper Harbledown. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
The survey, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes between one and two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Older roofs in small places like Upper Harbledown can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
How to book
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Pre-purchase roof survey in Upper Harbledown
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. 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 it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you’re worried about old water stains in the roof space and loose pots and cracked flaunching, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Upper Harbledown may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you are 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.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- Upper Harbledown (CT2)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Upper Harbledown
Is Upper Harbledown within the area you cover?
Yes, Upper Harbledown is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is the coastal weather around Upper Harbledown hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Useful tips for Upper Harbledown property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Nearby places to Upper Harbledown
More services for Upper Harbledown
Why get it checked now?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but too late to use them in the purchase. In a place like Upper Harbledown, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why book with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Visits on any day of the week
- Photographs and a written report every time
Upper Harbledown homes and their roofs
Upper Harbledown is within about 5 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Take an older house close to Church of St. Gabriel: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Upper Harbledown is about 2 miles west of Canterbury, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Upper Harbledown. We cover towns and villages across Kent.
Surveys in CT2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Roman Road, The Green and Limes Place or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to Upper Harbledown include Rough Common (1 mile north-east), Harbledown (1 mile east), Chartham Hatch (1 mile south-west), Thanington (1 mile south-east) and Wincheap (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (12 miles south-west), Dover (15 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles west), Folkestone (15 miles south-east), Whitstable (5 miles north) and Faversham (7 miles west).
Near you in Upper Harbledown
Around Upper Harbledown, our work takes us to homes and buildings near No Man's Orchard, The Canterbury Academy and The Dog and Bear pub. Upper Harbledown’s nearest station is Canterbury West station, roughly 1.8 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Canterbury Castle (1.9 miles east) and Eastbridge Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr (2 miles east). The countryside around Upper Harbledown includes Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Common roof problems in Upper Harbledown
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
If you let a flat or house near Canterbury West station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What happens after the report arrives
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Roof by roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack.
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a flue needs testing, we will suggest who to ask.