Kent · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Old Romney, Kent
Tracing where water is getting into your roof around Old Romney, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Damp underlay across a wide area
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
How a roof leak investigation works in Old Romney
Not every drip is a leak. Condensation in a cold, poorly ventilated loft can drip from nails and timbers, and the stains look much like a leak. Knowing which it is means the right fix can be done, because they need very different work. The pattern of the damp, the ventilation and the timing all help us decide. If you’ve noticed drips in the loft during heavy rain and brown rings on upstairs ceilings, we can find out what’s behind it, on rooflights and dormers, the roof space and valleys and parapet gutters alike.
Being in a small place like Old Romney makes no difference to how a leak or storm damage is looked at: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. Let us know where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, along with any repairs done before. Photos of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Old Romney (TN29)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Old Romney
Chimneys can let water in by several routes. Eroded pointing, cracked flaunching, failed flashings and open pots can all be responsible. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the loft space.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Stains around a skylight
- Water marks that spread in wet weather
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Landlords with a home close to Appledore (Kent) station may find that a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- What experience they bring
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Places near Old Romney
Also in Old Romney
How it works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a hamlet or village like Old Romney, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we check the stain and the ceiling around it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from each safe vantage point.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Honest limits
A survey is a proper look at the leaking roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Leaks that only appear in weather we cannot recreate
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Old Romney
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- The roof space
- Flat roof details
- Chimney stacks
Practical tips
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Have an electrician check any wet fittings
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Let us know about any past repairs to the roof
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, so the repair is aimed at the cause.
Plan a roof survey every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and catching wear early keeps water out.
Roof leak investigations around Old Romney
Old Romney is within about 4 miles of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask.
If you look after a building like The Marsh Academy, water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. If you live in an older home near Church of St Clement, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Old Romney is about 10 miles south-west of Hythe, in Kent. Old Romney gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across Kent, we cover Old Romney and the places around it. Canterbury is in our area too.
Roof leak investigations in TN29 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover the places around Old Romney: Ivychurch (2 miles north), New Romney (2 miles east), Brenzett (2 miles north-west), Lydd (3 miles south) and Brookland (3 miles west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (10 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles north-east), Hythe (10 miles north-east), Hawkinge (14 miles north-east), Tenterden (10 miles north-west) and Cheriton (13 miles north-east).
What’s near Old Romney
The closest station to Old Romney is Appledore (Kent) station, roughly 4.5 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Brenzett Aeronautical Museum (1.9 miles north-west) and Romney 'castle' (less than half a mile north-east). For a walk, there is Burnthouse Pen and Dungeness National.
Common questions in Old Romney
Is the coastal weather around Old Romney hard on roofs?
It can do. Old Romney is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Do you cover smaller places like Old Romney?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
How do you tell a leak from condensation?
Condensation can look very like a leak. Drips from nail tips, damp underlay over a wide area and poor loft ventilation point towards condensation. We check the pattern, take moisture readings and tell you which is more likely.
What’s in the survey report?
A photo-illustrated written report, explaining the condition of the leaking roof, any defects and our recommendations. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
How long does a roof leak investigation take?
On site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
What a survey costs
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- House, block, shop or office
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- When you need the report by
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you are ready.