Structural inspections and reports in London
An engineer visits, finds out what is going on and puts it in writing: from advice on the spot to a full structural inspection report for a buyer, lender or insurer.
About these services
Structural inspections answer a simple question: is this part of the building sound, and if not, what needs doing? This group covers everything from a short visit to look at a single crack, through to a whole-house report with a photographic schedule of every defect. It also includes the specialist visits that follow on from an inspection, such as opening up hidden structure, checking a chimney, or confirming that finished works match the design.
Most of our inspection clients are buyers, homeowners and landlords. A buyer may have a mortgage valuation that flags cracking. A homeowner may have noticed a door sticking or a ceiling dipping. A landlord may need written confirmation for a lender or insurer. Builders and architects use us too, usually when they find something unexpected once walls are stripped back, or when Building Control asks for an engineer's view before signing off work.
On London projects these services often run in sequence. A Victorian terrace in Islington or Ealing might start with a site visit, move to a written report once the issue is clear, then need opening-up to confirm what sits behind a plastered wall. If works were done without approval, a retrospective assessment lets Building Control consider them. Every inspection report we issue is signed off by a chartered engineer (CEng MICE).
Services in this group
- Site inspection with verbal adviceGCE-IN-001from £300
- Specific Structural Inspection report (SSI)GCE-IN-002from £450
- General Structural Inspection report (GSI)GCE-IN-003from £650
- Full Structural Inspection report (FSI)GCE-IN-023from £1,200
- Additional inspection or reinspectionGCE-IN-006from £250
- Structural letter of comfortGCE-IN-005from £300
- Post-works structural inspectionGCE-IN-008from £300
- Dangerous structure inspectionGCE-IN-012from £450
- Chimney stability reportGCE-IN-014from £400
- Retrospective structural assessmentGCE-IN-018from £600
- Structural investigation and opening-upGCE-IN-026from £900
Which inspection report do you need?
Start with the scope of the problem. If you have one concern and only want an engineer's opinion, a site inspection with verbal advice is the quickest route. If you need that opinion in writing, for a solicitor, lender or Building Control, choose a Specific Structural Inspection report, which deals with one defined defect or element, such as a bowing wall or a removed chimney breast.
Where there are several concerns, or you are buying an older property and want a wider picture, the General Structural Inspection report covers the accessible structure. For a whole-property review with causes, risks and prioritised recommendations for each defect, the Full Structural Inspection report is the right choice. Our guide on choosing an inspection report sets the options side by side if you are still unsure.
Compare the options
We can usually inspect within 48 hours, and written reports are issued within 5 working days of the visit, with faster service available for an extra fee. Starting fees exclude VAT; we confirm a fixed fee in writing once we know the property and the question.
| Option | Best when | You receive | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site visit with verbal advice | One concern, and the decision is yours alone | Advice on site, then a short summary email | £300 |
| Specific report (SSI) | One defect or element, and a lender, solicitor, insurer or Building Control needs it in writing | A signed report on that issue: what it is, the likely cause and what to do next | £450 |
| General report (GSI) | Several concerns, or you are buying an older or altered property | A signed report on all the accessible structure, good and bad | £650 |
| Full report (FSI) | You want every defect recorded and prioritised | A photographic schedule with the cause, risk and priority of each defect | £1,200 |
| Movement investigation | The cause of cracking or movement is unclear or may still be active | Inspection, building history and ground information brought together to find the cause | £750 |
What happens after the report
Many inspections end with the report: the crack is cosmetic, the wall is sound, or the repair is simple enough for your builder. Where the findings call for more, the report says what the next step is and why. Each next step is a separate appointment with its own scope and fixed fee, so you decide at each stage whether to go ahead.
- Find out more: opening up hidden structure, or a crack monitoring programme to see whether movement is still active.
- Design the repair: remedial design, from crack stitching and new lintels to underpinning where it is genuinely needed.
- See it built: a schedule of works for builders to price and an inspection once the work is finished.
We recommend further work only where the evidence supports it.
Projects using these services
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can an engineer inspect my property?
We confirm the visit date and turnaround in writing with the fixed fee, and written reports are issued within 5 working days of the visit. If you think a wall, chimney or ceiling may be close to failing, tell us when you call. A dangerous structure inspection is treated as urgent, and advice on making the structure safe is given on site.
Will the engineer need to lift floorboards or open up walls?
Not for a standard inspection. Our reports are based on a visual inspection of accessible areas, and we state clearly what we could not see. If the answer depends on hidden structure, such as whether a beam was installed above a removed chimney breast, we may recommend a separate opening-up visit. We agree the extent of that work with you first.
Can a structural letter of comfort replace a full report?
Sometimes. A letter of comfort is a short confirmation on one specific item, and lenders or solicitors often accept it when the question is narrow, such as whether an old crack is historic. If the lender wants detail on the cause, risk and repair, or there are several issues, a written inspection report will be needed instead.
Do you inspect works that were done without Building Regulations approval?
Yes. A retrospective structural assessment looks at what was built, often with some opening up, and checks it against current standards. Where the work is adequate we document it for Building Control. Where it falls short we explain what remedial work is needed. We send the report and any calculations to Building Control and deal with their questions.