Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Upper Hardres, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Upper Hardres, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Upper Hardres
If you are buying a flat, the roof may well be shared. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that is often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report gives you clear points to raise with your solicitor or the managing agent. If the building has a flat roof, we look at that too where access allows. We survey clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are flashings that have lifted or split and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
In a village or hamlet like Upper Hardres, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Place
- Upper Hardres (CT4)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a small place like Upper Hardres, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
Before the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Also near Upper Hardres
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FAQs for Upper Hardres
Do you cover Upper Hardres?
Yes, Upper Hardres is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is Upper Hardres within the area you cover?
Yes, Upper Hardres is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Useful tips for Upper Hardres property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
- Request records of any re-roofing
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Upper Hardres
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
If you let a flat or house near Bekesbourne station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Upper Hardres is about 4 miles south of Canterbury, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Upper Hardres and nearby. Upper Hardres is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CT4. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Broxhall Road and Hardres Court Road or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Upper Hardres include Lynsore Bottom (1 mile south-east), Pett Bottom (1 mile north-east), Lower Hardres (1 mile north), Petham (2 miles west) and Street End (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (11 miles south-west), Canterbury (4 miles north), Dover (11 miles south-east), Folkestone (10 miles south), Whitstable (10 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
Landmarks near Upper Hardres
Around Upper Hardres, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Duck pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Upper Hardres is Bekesbourne station, roughly 3.9 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Canterbury Castle (4.1 miles north) and Kent and Canterbury Hospital (3.5 miles north).
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What to tell us when you get in touch
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The kind of building and roof involved
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Upper Hardres?
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Peter and St Paul, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Questions to ask before booking
- What experience they bring
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
We inspect the outside of the stack, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a flue needs testing, we’ll suggest who to ask.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.