Get a structural engineer’s report on the condition of your building

Blueprint elevation of a brick house with numbered condition markers on the roof, chimney and wall, beside a survey report

For owners, landlords and managing agents who want to know whether a building’s structure is sound. Tell us about the property and compare quotes from structural engineers who inspect it and report in plain English.

A structural survey is an inspection by a structural engineer of the parts of a building that hold it up: the walls, floors, roof structure, chimneys, lintels and, as far as can be seen, the foundations. It is different from a general building survey, which also covers damp, services and finishes. The engineer looks for defects, signs of movement, past alterations and anything that has been weakened, then writes a report that explains what they found, why it matters and what to do, whether that is nothing, monitoring, further investigation or repair. It is useful when you own a building, are about to alter one, or want a clear view before you spend money on it.

How a professional can help

Inspecting the structure inside and out: The engineer walks the property, looking at walls, floors, ceilings, the roof space and the outside, and records cracks, distortion, damp staining and signs of repairs or alterations.
Following the load from roof to ground: The engineer traces how the roof, floors and walls pass their weight down to the foundations. They look for weak links such as overloaded beams, worn lintels (the beams over doors and windows), decayed timber ends or walls with little restraint.
Putting defects in order of urgency: Not every crack or sloping floor is a problem. The report separates cosmetic issues from those linked to movement, decay or overloading, and says which need action soon and which can wait, so you spend in a sensible order.
Pointing to further checks: Where the cause is unclear, the engineer may suggest crack monitoring, trial pits, a drain survey or opening up a small area, and name other specialists, such as timber or damp surveyors, rather than guessing from a single visit.
Setting out repair options: The report explains the repair choices in plain terms. If you want, the engineer can go on to design the work, with drawings and a specification that builders can quote against and building control can check.
A dated record for owners and agents: A signed report with photographs gives landlords, freeholders and managing agents a dated record of condition to plan maintenance around, and to show a lender, insurer or solicitor if they ask.

Is this right for you?

You own an older building and want to know how its structure is doing before you spend money on repairs or alterations.
You’re a landlord or managing agent who needs a record of the structural condition of a property or block.
You have noticed cracks, sloping floors or sticking doors and want an independent engineer’s opinion.
You’re planning to alter a building and want to understand its structure before design starts.

How the project usually runs

Agree what the report should answer: You tell the engineer what prompted the survey and what you need, such as a general condition view, a check on one area or a report for a third party, so the report covers the right things.
Walking the building: The engineer visits and looks at the structure inside and out, taking photographs and measurements, and noting anything that cannot be seen or reached safely.
Further checks if needed: If something needs closer study, such as a crack, a sagging floor or a hidden beam, the engineer may suggest monitoring or a small opening-up before drawing conclusions.
The condition report: The report sets out a description of the building, what was and was not inspected, the defects found with photographs, their likely causes, how urgent each one is and what should happen next.
Follow-up: You can ask the engineer to explain the report, to talk to your builder or lender about it, or to design repairs, and you can keep the report with the property records.

What affects the cost

The size, age and construction of the building, and how many separate areas, such as flats or outbuildings, need inspecting.
How much of the structure can be seen, and whether lofts, cellars or floor voids can be reached safely.
Whether the engineer needs to open up small areas, or whether other specialists, such as a drain survey, are needed.
How detailed the report needs to be, and whether a third party such as a lender requires specific wording.
Whether you want a short letter on one issue or a full report with photographs and a schedule of repairs.

What approvals follow a structural survey

A survey is advice, so it needs no approval. Repairs or alterations that follow are approved differently across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a building warrant in Scotland and a separate system in Northern Ireland. Engineers cover the whole UK.
If the building is listed, opening up floors or walls during a survey, and any repair afterwards, may need listed building consent. Check with your council before anything is cut.
If you own a flat or let the property out, your lease or tenancy agreement may say who is responsible for the structure. Check it before you order work or share the report with anyone.
If the survey leads to work on a shared wall in England or Wales, a party wall surveyor can say whether notices under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 are needed.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a structural survey and a building survey?

A building survey, usually by a chartered surveyor, covers the whole property, including damp, services, windows and finishes. A structural survey concentrates on the parts that carry loads, such as walls, floors, roofs and foundations, and is carried out by an engineer. If a building survey flags a structural concern, an engineer is often the next step.

Will the engineer look under the floors and in the roof?

Where they can be reached safely, yes. Engineers inspect loft spaces, accessible cellars and floor voids, and look at the outside of the foundations as far as they can see. They don’t normally dig or lift floors on a first visit, and a good report says what could not be seen.

Can one report cover a block or several buildings?

Often, yes, but how much is inspected needs to be agreed first. For a block, an engineer may look at every flat, or sample some of them and all the shared parts. The report should say clearly what was covered, so tell the engineer how many homes and buildings are involved when you ask for quotes.

Can a structural survey tell me how long the building will last?

Not exactly. It can say what condition the structure is in today, what is likely to need attention first and what is worth watching over the years, but it cannot predict the future. Treat it as a dated health check, and ask for another if you notice new cracks or before major building work.

Does the report cover damp, timber decay and drains?

Only where they affect the structure. An engineer may note rot in a beam or a leaking pipe, but damp and timber treatment are normally for a specialist, and drains need their own survey. If these matter to you, say so when you ask for quotes.

Available across the UK

Professionals cover the whole of the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Planning and Building Regulations differ between the four nations, and your professional will work to the rules that apply where your property is.