A client contacted SERL following a recommendation from their chartered surveyor. They endorsed our firm due to our recognised expertise, independence, and the clarity of our reporting.
The client required a structural engineer’s report specifically for the Chiswick and West London area. Their surveyor and lender expressed concerns about structural issues related to historic settlement and apparent underpinning of part of the property, though the extent was unclear. It is common for lenders to request such a report whenever there is any mention of historic underpinning.
SERL offers two types of structural reports:
1) A localised, specific, and limited Specific Structural Inspection (SSI) report or a Structural Engineers Defect Report.
2) A broader General Structural Inspection Report (GSI) or Structural Engineers General Movement Report which focuses only on matters of cracking and movement.
In response to the client’s requirements our qualified Chartered Structural Engineer recommended a General Structural Inspection (GSI) report.
The West London property showed no evidence of recent movement. However, signs of historical settlement were evident, as the property leaned slightly from right to left. Additionally, the windowsills above the bay window sloped, suggesting the typical deflection of the bressumer beam in that area.
We concluded that these structural issues were indeed historical and required no repairs.
Due to our findings and the production of a positive structural engineer’s report for the client, they were able to proceed with the purchase of the property. And it also reassured both the surveyor and the mortgage provider.