Structural engineers

Compare structural engineers for the home you're buying

Worried about cracks, subsidence or movement? Compare local chartered structural engineers on fixed price, earliest availability and reviews, then book online in minutes.

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A structural survey is carried out by a chartered structural or civil engineer — typically registered with the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE, denoted MIStructE) or the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) — or by a RICS building surveyor specialising in structures, and is backed by professional indemnity insurance. This is not a standard RICS home survey: the engineer can assess loads, design beams and produce calculations that lenders, insurers and Building Control will accept.

London · SW18

RICS regulated

★★★★★ 4.9 · 120 reviews

Service: Structural survey
Earliest visit: Tue 9 Jun
Fixed quote: £500 inc. VAT

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Structural Survey / Engineer's Report

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A structural survey is a targeted investigation by a chartered structural engineer into a specific concern — cracking, subsidence, bowing or leaning walls, sagging floors, or a proposed load-bearing alteration. It is more focused and more specialised than a RICS Level 3 Building Survey, and is often the next step when a Level 3 flags structural movement and recommends a specialist engineer.

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Is this the right one?

Who a Structural survey is for.

Your RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey has flagged cracking, movement or subsidence and recommends a structural engineer's opinion
You can see diagonal or stepped cracks, bowing or leaning walls, sloping floors, or doors and windows that no longer close square
You're planning to remove a chimney breast or knock through a load-bearing wall and need calculations and a beam specification
A lender, buildings insurer or your conveyancer has asked for a structural engineer's report before they'll proceed
You're buying an older, altered, extended or previously underpinned property and want certainty about its structural condition

What you get

What a structural survey investigates

Cracking — cause and significance

Whether cracks are cosmetic, historic and stable, or active and progressive — and the most likely cause, from thermal movement to foundation problems.

Subsidence, heave & clay shrinkage

Signs that the ground beneath the foundations is moving — subsidence (sinking), heave (lifting) or clay shrinkage near trees — and whether monitoring or underpinning may be needed.

Bowing, leaning & bulging walls

Lateral movement in walls, bulging brickwork or failing wall ties, with advice on lateral restraint, tie replacement or rebuilding.

Sagging floors & roof spread

Undersized or overloaded joists, deflecting beams and roof spread pushing walls outward, with a view on the remedial structural support required.

Load-bearing alterations & beam sizing

Whether a wall is load-bearing, plus the steel or timber beam size, padstones and supports needed to remove it safely — the basis for Building Regulations sign-off.

Past or unauthorised structural work

Previous underpinning, removed chimney breasts or knocked-through walls done without adequate support, and whether they are sound or need attention.

Lintels, foundations & damp-related movement

Failed or missing lintels over openings, shallow foundations, and movement linked to long-term water leaks or poor drainage.

A clear remedial recommendation

A written engineer's opinion stating whether the structure is sound, what works are needed, and whether crack monitoring or further investigation (such as trial holes) is warranted.

How much it costs

Structural survey cost in 2026.

On Home.co.uk a structural survey is a fixed £495–£995 inclusive of VAT — the quote you see is the price you pay, with no "from £X" teasers and no add-ons appearing at checkout.

£500–£1,500

UK average roughly £600–£750 for a single defect or concern; full structural appraisals run higher

Price is driven by the scope (a single crack or wall versus a whole-property structural appraisal), the property's size and age, and whether design calculations or a beam specification are required. Trial holes, monitoring studs or follow-up visits are quoted separately and only ever agreed with you in advance.

How long it takes

Appointment and turnaround.

On-site / inspection

~1–3 hours on site for a targeted concern; longer for a full structural appraisal

Report / certificate

~3–7 working days, depending on whether design calculations are needed

allow roughly 1–2 weeks from booking to report; crack monitoring, where recommended, runs over several months

Why compare here

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Regulated & accountable

Every provider is IStructE / RICS.

When you compare on Home.co.uk you're comparing like-for-like, accredited providers — not the cheapest unqualified option.

Common questions

Structural survey, answered.

What is a structural survey, and how is it different from a RICS Level 3?

A RICS Level 3 Building Survey is a broad inspection of a whole property's condition by a building surveyor. A structural survey is a narrower, deeper investigation by a chartered structural engineer into one structural concern — typically cracking, movement or subsidence — or to design a load-bearing alteration. A Level 3 often ends by recommending a structural engineer; the structural survey is that specialist follow-up.

Do I need a structural survey if I'm already having a Level 2 or Level 3?

Not usually upfront. Most buyers start with a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. You only need a structural engineer's report if that survey flags structural movement, cracking or subsidence and recommends a specialist, if you can see worrying cracks or leaning walls yourself, or if you're planning to remove a load-bearing wall. It is a targeted second opinion, not a replacement for a home survey.

Who carries out a structural survey?

A chartered structural or civil engineer — registered with the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE, using MIStructE) or the Institution of Civil Engineers — or a RICS building surveyor who specialises in structures. This differs from a standard RICS home survey: a structural engineer can assess loads, design beams and produce calculations that lenders, insurers and Building Control will accept.

Are the quoted prices fixed and do they include VAT?

Yes. The prices you compare on Home.co.uk are fixed and inclusive of VAT — the figure you see is the figure you pay, with no "from" teasers or surprises at checkout. If the engineer recommends additional work such as trial holes, structural calculations or a period of crack monitoring, they will set that out and quote it separately before anything is agreed.

Should I worry about cracks I can see in the property?

Not every crack is serious — many are cosmetic, caused by normal thermal movement, or settled decades ago. Engineers pay closest attention to cracks that are diagonal or stepped, wider than a few millimetres, getting worse over time, or accompanied by sticking doors and sloping floors. A structural engineer's job is to tell you which category a crack falls into and whether it needs action.

What is subsidence, and will a structural survey confirm it?

Subsidence is downward movement of the ground supporting a building's foundations, often caused by clay soils shrinking in dry weather, nearby trees, or leaking drains. A structural engineer can assess the visible signs and the likely cause, and advise whether the movement appears active. Confirming it definitively can require trial holes or a period of monitoring, which the engineer will recommend if needed.

Will I need a structural survey to remove a wall or chimney breast?

If the wall is load-bearing, yes. A structural engineer will confirm whether it carries load, then specify the steel or timber beam, its size and the supports (padstones) required. Those calculations are what your builder works to and what Building Control needs to sign the work off. Removing a load-bearing wall without this is unsafe and can invalidate insurance and future sales.

Can a structural engineer's report help with my mortgage or insurance?

Often, yes. When a lender's valuer or a buildings insurer raises concerns about cracking or subsidence, they frequently ask for a structural engineer's report before proceeding. A clear report confirming the structure is sound — or setting out defined remedial works — can unlock a mortgage offer or a satisfactory insurance position. Note that a mortgage valuation is not a survey and won't give you this.

Does a structural survey come with a guarantee?

No. Like any survey, it is an expert professional opinion based on a visual inspection of the accessible structure at the time of the visit, not a guarantee or warranty. Some elements — foundations, hidden timbers, the ground itself — can only be assessed by opening up or excavating, which falls outside a standard inspection unless arranged separately. The value is the engineer's qualified judgement and clear recommendation.

How long will crack monitoring take if it's recommended?

If an engineer suspects active movement, they may fit monitoring studs or telltales and take readings over a period of months — commonly around six to twelve — to establish whether cracks are stable or progressing across the seasons. This is the standard way to distinguish historic, harmless movement from live subsidence, and it is quoted separately from the initial inspection.

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