Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in West Malling
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in West Malling. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in West Malling
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. At that point you can still ask questions, because nothing is binding yet. We survey seven days a week, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We’re frequently asked to look into slipped or missing slates and tiles and chimney mortar that has eroded, on clay and concrete tiles, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks.
In a smaller place like West Malling, some houses face open ground, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. Whether you are buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a close look. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- West Malling (ME19)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Surveys for landlords and agents in West Malling
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Also near West Malling
Also in West Malling
How it works
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 usually takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a smaller place like West Malling, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from ground level and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
How to book
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Questions from West Malling
Is West Malling in the area you cover?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and West Malling is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like West Malling?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Useful tips for West Malling property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. You might ask for the work to be done before completion, or ask to adjust the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s, and we cannot promise any result.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around West Malling
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you own a rental within reach of West Malling station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Old Soar Manor lies about 4.2 miles south-west, so building around West Malling goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy.
West Malling is about 6 miles west of Maidstone, in Kent. We visit West Malling as part of our work across Kent, for homes and businesses alike. West Malling is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
All of ME19 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include High Street, Police Station Road and London Road, and we cover them all. West Malling is on the A20, so it is easy for us to get to. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Well Street (1 mile south-east), East Malling (1 mile east), Kings Hill (2 miles south), Ditton (2 miles east) and Red Hill (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (6 miles east), Sittingbourne (15 miles east), Dartford (13 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (9 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south-west) and Gravesend (9 miles north).
Near you in West Malling
We work in homes and buildings around Manor Park Country Park, The Malling School and The Malling School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is West Malling station, about 0.7 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Coldrum Long Barrow (2.3 miles north-west) and Leybourne Castle (1.1 miles north-east). The countryside around West Malling includes Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
What we’re asked to look at in West Malling
The fixings and underlay frequently fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before you book anyone
- What they will not be able to tell you
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance