Kent · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Southernden, Kent
Tracing where water is getting into your roof for Southernden, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a small place like Southernden, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Before we arrive
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Roof leak investigation in Southernden: what you get
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Flashings at chimneys and walls, valleys, gutters, parapets and flat roof upstands and outlets are the usual suspects. Each of these is checked in turn and follow the evidence. Chimneys, dormers and roof lights each add joints of their own. We check all of them, from every safe vantage point. Typical surveys look at leaks at a dormer or roof window and water that shows only in certain storms, across lead flashings, flat roof details and valleys and parapet gutters.
Roofs in small places like Southernden often stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Southernden (TN27)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Southernden
More services for Southernden
Southernden: your questions answered
Do you cover Southernden?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Is my home in Southernden listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photographs, covering the condition of the leaking roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, in order of urgency where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Check the loft can be reached. Gather any photos and notes about when it leaks, plus details of past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Southernden
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Keep water away from lights and sockets
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Make sure the loft is accessible
If there are several possible sources, we list them in order of likelihood. Recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant, so you know what to deal with first.
Have leaves and moss cleared from gutters, valleys and outlets, ideally once the leaves have fallen. Many leaks start with a blocked outlet. Leave the clearing to someone with the right equipment.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Southernden
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. The wider area around Southernden has a long history of building, with Leeds Castle about 4.8 miles north. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, 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 Headcorn station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away.
Southernden is about 8 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. If you are in Southernden, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our Kent coverage includes Southernden. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
All of TN27 is within our area for roof leak investigations. Other places close to Southernden include Swift's Green (1 mile south), Smarden Bell (2 miles south), Headcorn (2 miles south-west), Hearnden Green (2 miles west) and Biddenden Green (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (8 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (13 miles north-west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Southernden
The closest station to Southernden is Headcorn station, roughly 2.1 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Coldbridge Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (3.8 miles south-west).
Why it’s worth a survey now in Southernden
Damp in a ceiling or loft can lead to mould. It is unpleasant, and it’s harder to deal with once established. Finding the leak comes first. Around Southernden, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
Why book with us
- Package prices that include VAT
- PI and public liability insurance
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
How we price roof leak investigations
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- The size of the roof
- Which survey package you book
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT.
What to let us know when you contact us
Some details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What’s prompted the survey
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
How the survey changes by roof type
Slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, corroded nails let slates slip. Even a single gap can let water in, especially in driving rain.
Valleys
A valley takes the rain from both sides of the roof. Worn or split linings and slipped valley tiles let it under the coverings.