Kent · London and the South East
Westwell Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A careful look at the roof at your property in Westwell, with photographs and a written report.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Westwell
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, so the roof is one item among many. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. We survey natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes, and common reasons people get in touch are damp timbers or stains in the loft and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
Being in a small place like Westwell makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when booking, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Westwell (TN25)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. The survey normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Cottages and farmhouses around Westwell often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
What we are asked to look at in Westwell
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 is a frequent finding on older houses.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Questions to ask before booking
- Their insurance cover
- How soon the report will arrive
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Places near Westwell
More services for Westwell
Westwell: your questions answered
Is my home in Westwell listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Westwell within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit normally takes an hour or two for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Do you go up on the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Checking the roof from ground level
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Westwell homes and their roofs
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses like Godinton House, about 2.3 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Westwell goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you let a flat or house near Charing station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Westwell is about 4 miles north of Ashford, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Westwell can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Westwell is one of the places in Kent we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
All of TN25 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover the places around Westwell: Tutt Hill (1 mile south-west), Ram Lane (1 mile west), Potters Corner (1 mile south), Westwell Leacon (2 miles west) and Hothfield (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (15 miles west), Ashford (4 miles south), Canterbury (12 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north-west), Whitstable (14 miles north-east) and Faversham (9 miles north).
Landmarks near Westwell
For rail, the closest station is Charing station, roughly 2.6 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include County Square (3.2 miles south) and William Harvey Hospital (4.6 miles south-east).
Why it’s worth a survey now in Westwell
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. In a small place like Westwell, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
What you get with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Prices that include VAT
- An independent look at the roof
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Useful tips for Westwell property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.