What is a Structural Engineers Report

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What is a Structural Engineers Report?

A Structural Engineers Report is a high level, strategic report on the skeleton structural condition of a property and will diagnose particular structural defects or concerns.

The Structural Engineers Report, also called an Engineers Report, a Structural Engineering Report, or a Structural Inspection report, provides a professional and unbiased opinion on whether a property is safe, strong, and stable.

There are commonly two types of Structural Engineers Reports: General Structural Inspection (GSI) and Specific Structural Inspection (SSI).

A Structural Engineers Report will vary depending on which of the two types of report are selected but typically include:

An inspection of visible parts of the building’s skeleton structure to identify any structural issues.
A structural assessment of loadbearing walls, geology, drain and tree implications.
Identification of any visible structural defects, and the likely causes of cracks, movement, or subsidence.
Recommendations for repairs or corrective measures.
Estimated costs for remedial work (if requested).

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. This will help a client to make an informed decision when buying, selling, or insuring a property.

Why would a Structural Engineers Report be required?

A Structural Engineers Report by a qualified engineer could be required to:

provide a specialist expert opinion on a structural problem such as cracking or concerns about subsidence.
help secure a mortgage or building insurance or to assist in the sales process of a property.
provide an independent opinion when previous alterations to a property were made without Building Regulations approval or consent of a landlord.
advise a homeowner concerned about structural defects who wants to may need to make an insurance claim.

Increasingly, property vendors in London are including a Structural Engineers Report as part of their sales pack to provide transparency about the property’s structural condition. An independent Structural Engineers Report is a useful document to provide reassurance to prospective purchasers.

A homebuyer in London might commission a Structural Engineers Report to verify the structural integrity of a building before committing to the purchase.

Financial institutions might require an independent Structural Engineers Report as part of a loan approval process or to assess an insurance risk. Most mortgage lenders and insurers will stipulate that the report is undertaken by a Chartered Structural Engineer with qualifications C Eng MIStructE as the minimum requirement.

Two types of Structural Engineers Reports for London properties

1. For a localised structural concern, we offer a Specific Structural Inspection (SSI), also called a Defect Inspection Report. This is a visual inspection of a single structural issue, such as a crack above a window or a bulging wall, in one area of the building. Our Structural Engineer will focus on the issue agreed with the client and will assess whether the problem requires remedial action with advice on implications and costings.

2. For multiple cracks or general signs of movement we offer a General Structural Inspection (GSI), also called a Structural Engineers General Movement Report. This is a more comprehensive inspection that will assess the overall condition of the building’s skeleton structure and loadbearing walls and advise on the implications of any signs of cracking, movement, and subsidence. Our 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.