Chartered Structural Engineers with CEng MIStructE qualifications deal with a building’s strength, safety, and stability. They are technically qualified to appraise structural problems such as cracking, movement or issues with a floor, roof, or wall. When a Structural Engineer’s Report is needed, it is of vital importance that it is conducted by a Chartered Structural Engineer with relevant experience and expertise.
If a Surveyor recommends a specialist Structural Engineers Report during a property valuation process, all mortgage lenders or insurers will only accept a report made by a Chartered Structural Engineer with qualifications C Eng MIStructE.
SERL’s Chartered Structural Engineers deal exclusively in assessing the structural integrity of residential properties across Greater London. Each of our Structural Engineers is a fully trained and trusted expert who can carry out a range of inspections to ensure a property is structurally sound and safe.
Our Chartered Structural Engineers also specialise in report writing. This core competence ensures our reports are clear, concise, and free of unnecessary technical jargon, and normally issued the day after the inspection.
A Structural Engineers Report, also called an Engineers Report, a Structural Engineering Report or Structural Inspection report, is the professional way of assessing the structural condition of a property. There are commonly two types of Structural Engineers Reports: General Structural Inspection (GSI – 2 cracks or more) and Specific Structural Inspection (SSI – 1 crack only).
A Structural Engineers Report provides a purchaser, vendor, or homeowner with detailed information about the structural condition of the property, identifying any structural problems in need of repair. A Structural Engineers Report by a qualified engineer, can be required when selling, re-financing, or altering a property as they provide an independent expert opinion on the property’s condition.
This type of Report is most often required during the process of buying or selling a property. This is when a client will want to know whether a property is mortgageable or insurable. Equally SERL can advise current homeowners if they are concerned about structural cracking or other structural defects and may need to make an insurance claim. They may also want to gain an understanding of any potential structural repair and maintenance costs.
Our Chartered Structural Engineers have unrivalled knowledge about the structure of residential property with many years of hands-on experience in this area. Older London properties might exhibit structural issues due to old age, deterioration, or environmental effects, such as subsidence often caused by trees or leaking drains.
Our professional Structural Engineers Reports will provide clear guidance on steps to take if there are any structural problems to address.
1. For specific localised structural concerns, we offer a Specific Structural Inspection (SSI – 1 crack only), also called a Defect Inspection Report. This is a visual inspection of a single structural concern. The Structural Engineer will focus on the one issue agreed with the client and will assess whether the problem requires remedial action and will advise on implications and costings.
2. For multiple cracks or general signs of movement we offer a General Structural Inspection (GSI – 2 cracks or more), also called a Structural Engineers General Movement Report. This inspection will assess the overall condition of the building’s skeleton structure and appraise the implications of any signs of cracking and movement. The Structural Engineer will also address the external environment of the property to evaluate any risk posed by potential hazards such as large trees and drains.
Any potential structural defects will be included in the report including what was observed, the identified or suspected cause of the problem, recommendations for repairs, with costs as appropriate, and whether the property is structurally sound or not.
Our Structural Engineers Reports in London will include:
Our Summary
SERL provide a concise and clear summary at the beginning of each report, so clients are in no doubt of our opinions, providing clear guidance on how to proceed, what repairs are required together with an order of cost.
Our Observations
We will provide unbiased and detailed practical recommendations to address the problem. These might include a range of options from the minimum work required to a more effective long-term solution, with estimated costs. Our focus will be on restoring the strength of the structure and minimising any further deterioration.
Our Recommendations
We will provide unbiased and detailed practical recommendations to address the problem. These might include a range of options from the minimum work required to a more effective long-term solution, with estimated costs. Our focus will be on restoring the strength of the structure and minimising any further deterioration.
In addition, SERL can now offer a Certificate of Structural Adequacy in certain circumstances if requested. See below.
The Structural Engineer will help the client establish a clear brief to define the scope and nature of the inspection before undertaking the property visit in London. This is based on a history of thousands of similar surveys and knowing what most buyers require and how to satisfy the mortgage lenders. The agreed brief will include details of any specific structural concern with the property or copies of the General Practice Surveyors report.
The brief might be to assess the general structural condition of the property, looking at the entire skeleton structure primarily the loadbearing walls together with an assessment of likely foundations, geology, trees, and drainage implications. Alternatively, the brief might be focused on a single structural defect such as a crack in a wall. With either brief, the Structural Engineer will arrange a site inspection and then provide their written report.
The fee for a Structural Engineer’s Report can vary widely in London as every case is unique in size and scope. For instance, the cost of a Structural Report will be influenced by the type and location of the property in London, and the requirements of the brief. A large property or one with complex features may require more time and expertise, which will result in a higher fee.
A Structural Engineer’s Report fee will also be dependent on the Engineer’s specialist knowledge and expertise, qualifications, reputation, and years of experience.
It is important for a client to understand what the report will include before agreeing the fee and payment terms. Fees are agreed and payable in advance as is common practice in the entire residential surveying profession. This is to secure the Structural Engineer’s services, in what can be a busy and changing schedule if buyers pull out of a transaction or change their mind.
When assessing a quotation for a Structural Engineers Report do bear in mind its importance and integrity compared to the value of the property transaction involved. The best quality, comprehensive reports produced to a tight deadline by a fully insured, respected Structural Engineer may incur a higher fee than similar reports from those less qualified and experience, many of whom do not specialise in Structural Engineers Reports and are not familiar with lenders and Insurers requirements or geared to next day delivery of reports.
The lump sum fee for our Specific Structural Inspection Report (SSI – 1 crack only), also called a Defect Inspection Report, starts at £ 1,250 + VAT to inspect and report on a property in Greater London. This involves approximately 5-8 hours work, travel, and other associated costs.
This type of Structural Engineers Report undertakes a visual inspection of a particular structural concern or problem. A typical defect might be cracking and movement to a bay window or wall.
The lump sum fee for our General Structural Inspection (GSI – 2 cracks or more) for a property in Greater London will vary depending on the property size and extent of any defects.
However, the cost will be from £2,000 +VAT and typically takes 8-10 hours work. This General Report involves an inspection of the skeleton structure, mainly the walls, to identify any structural defects. Within the report, SERL will also consider the geological conditions and environment immediately surrounding the property.
If you are in the process of purchasing a property in London and there is a potential structural problem this may be the greatest risk to the purchase if the issues are not correctly diagnosed.
In cases where the mortgage Surveyor has identified structural issues, you will probably require the Chartered Structural Engineer’s Report to satisfy your own concerns most importantly but also to secure the mortgage and or building insurance.
While the property may seem structurally sound some defects could cost thousands of pounds to rectify. A Structural Engineers Report by a qualified expert will advise you on the structural condition of a property and help you decide whether to proceed with the purchase, with well-defined risks.
Buying and owning a property in London is a large investment, so the additional expense of a professional Structural Engineer’s Report is worthwhile for the peace of mind it provides. It will clearly identify the issues, allowing you to potentially negotiate a reduced purchase price based on the cost of repairing any defects. Of course, you may also decide not to proceed with the purchase. However, the Structural Engineer’s Report will provide you with the information you need to make the most sensible decision.
A professional Structural Engineers Report will be a worthwhile investment as it could save subsequent time and expense.