Cracks in your walls? A structural engineer inspects, from £395
We do not give structural opinions, and a guess from a neighbour is no substitute. A structural engineer visits, looks at the cracks and movement and reports in writing. We arrange the engineer, brief them with your photographs and our drawings, and the visit is in the fee. From £395.
- From £395, visit included
- A structural engineer inspects and reports
- Larger jobs confirmed in writing first
What does a structural inspection for cracks cost?
The fee starts at £395, with the engineer’s visit included and no VAT to add. A structural engineer inspects the cracks or movement and reports in writing. We find and instruct the engineer, send them your photographs and the history of the cracks, and arrange access. Scope varies, so a larger house or a complicated problem is confirmed in writing before you book.
Structural calculations, engineering design and formal inspections are provided only through an appointed professional, such as a structural engineer or a building control surveyor. These reports do not replace them: where a report finds something that needs one, it says so and names the kind of professional to appoint.
What the £395 starts with
- An engineer arranged for you, who inspects the cracks, the movement and the building around them
- A written brief to the engineer, with your photographs, dates and what you have noticed
- Our drawings or survey of the house where we have them, so the engineer works from accurate plans
- The engineer’s findings in writing, with a plain-English summary of what happens next from us
- A pointer to the next step, such as a repair scope of works that builders can price
Do I need a surveyor or a structural engineer for cracks?
A structural engineer. A surveyor can note a crack, and a building defect report from us can record and photograph it, but the cause of cracking, movement or subsidence is a structural judgement that only an engineer gives.
If you are unsure whether a crack matters, you can book this inspection straight away. The engineer, not us, tells you how serious it is.
What we arrange, and what the engineer does
The engineer inspects, forms the opinion and writes the report. We do the arranging around it: choosing the engineer, briefing them, sending the drawings and fixing the visit. That follows how all our reports work. Structural calculations, engineering design and formal inspections come only through an appointed professional.
The fee covers the inspection and the written findings. If the engineer recommends more, such as crack monitoring over several months, trial pits to expose foundations, a drainage CCTV survey or a repair design, each is quoted separately in writing before it goes ahead.
Subsidence, foundations and retaining walls
Suspected subsidence, a foundation question, a leaning retaining wall and the structural opinion an owner wants on a worrying house all start the same way: an engineer inspects and reports. Trial pits, where needed, are dug by a contractor and quoted separately.
If you are claiming on insurance, tell the insurer first and follow its process. The insurer and its loss adjuster decide the claim.
After the engineer reports
The report says what caused the movement and what repair it needs. We turn that into a repair scope of works, with the engineer’s items marked, so builders price the same job. A repair to a shared wall may need notice under the Party Wall etc. Act (section 2).
If you want the whole house recorded as well, a property condition report walks every room. All our reports are on the reports page.
Landlords: record when you were told
A landlord must keep a rented home fit for human habitation throughout a tenancy, and is considered responsible for a hazard from when the tenant makes them aware of it (gov.uk). A dated inspection and report show what you knew, when, and what you did next.
Rules that sit around a structural problem
- Repair
- The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives a building owner the right to make good or repair a party structure, subject to its notice rules. Party Wall etc. Act 1996, section 2
- Underpin
- The same section lists the right to underpin, thicken or raise a party structure, which matters if the engineer recommends underpinning a shared wall. Party Wall etc. Act 1996, section 2
- Cut into
- It also lists the right to cut into a party structure for any purpose, subject to the notice rules. Party Wall etc. Act 1996, section 2
- From notice
- A landlord is considered responsible for a hazard from when the tenant makes them aware of it, so note the date a defect is reported. gov.uk: guide for landlords, Homes Act 2018
- Throughout
- A landlord must keep a rented home, including common parts, fit for human habitation at the start of the tenancy and throughout it. gov.uk: guide for landlords, Homes Act 2018
- Owned or rented
- The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is a tool for assessing risks to health and wellbeing in a home, whether rented or owned. gov.uk: HHSRS guidance for landlords
- Several trades
- With more than one contractor on a domestic job, the client duties pass to the principal contractor, unless the client agrees in writing for a designer to take them on. HSE: CDM 2015, domestic clients
Cracks and structural inspection questions
Can you tell me if my cracks are serious?
No. We do not give structural opinions. A structural engineer does, and we arrange the engineer and the visit within the fee.
Is £395 the full price?
It is the starting fee, with the engineer’s visit included and no VAT to add. Larger or more complicated jobs are confirmed in writing before you book, and monitoring, trial pits, drainage CCTV and repair design are quoted separately.
Should I repair the cracks first?
Photograph them and note the date, then wait for the engineer’s findings before anyone repairs them.
Will you do the repair?
We write the repair scope. Builders price it and carry out the work.
Does this replace my insurer’s own inspection?
No. If you are claiming, the insurer and its loss adjuster decide the claim. The report gives you an independent written account.
Other services people book with this one
Get an engineer to look at the cracks
Send photographs and the address. We confirm the fee in writing and arrange the visit.