A prospective buyer contacted SERL having leant that an internal wall had previously been removed without landlords consent. This concerned the buyers lender and their Surveyor.
The buyer and lender wanted reassurance from a qualified Structural Engineer’s inspection and report that their property in Central London remained safe and strong and that neither the apartment or the building more generally had been compromised as a result of the alteration.
SERL was contacted by the buyer who was seeking a reputable, independent, and highly experienced structural engineering firm specialising in Structural Engineers Reports for residential properties in the Central London area.
In response to the client’s requirements our qualified Chartered Structural Engineer recommended a Specific Structural Inspection report.
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.
The mid-terrace period property in Central London had long been converted into separate apartments and there was no knowledge when the wall was removed as it pre dated the current owners purchase. There was no particular distress but the absence of any landlords consent concerned both the landlord and buyers Solicitors.
We found the property in Central London to be in average condition but showed no signs of distress to suggest any overstressing or excessive deflections. We were able to inspect the floors and roof above and concluded the wall was not a major loadbearing wall and instead only supported a lightweight partition above.
We were able to reassure the landlord that the Central London property remained safe and sound with regard to the specific concerns raised.
The alterations were known to pre date the current ownership which was at least 15 years, so the property had demonstrably withstood the test of time.
The learning points include remembering that, leaseholders should notify their landlord when undertaking any material building work as the landlords consent is always required for any changes to the internal layout of the property, whether structural walls or not.