What does 'structural engineer ' mean?

Chapter 17: The Property Buying Process in Theory

"... is extremely important to know that the surveyor is qualified to spot tell-tale signs but cannot actually or absolutely state that something is wrong. He may say, for example, that "the windows are in need of refurbishment and that a qualified contractor should assess the cost" or "there appear to be signs that the property is subsiding to the rear and a qualified structural engineer should survey the property to assess the extent of any..."

"... the tiling, flashings, parapets, rafters and chimney stacks. Structure - a structural engineer to make sure that there is no movement in the building beyond the normal amount expected and that none of the walls are bulging. Drainage - a specialist company that can place CCTV probes in the..."

"... you nor the vendor can agree who will pay for a specific specialist to check the property. As an example the property may need a structural engineer to assess it. The vendor argues that you should pay for it because it will be a document useful to you when you come to sell (the vendor nearly always assumes the situation is ridiculous and their property cannot possibly be structurally unsound). You argue the vendor should pay because you have already spent money on the survey and it is up to the vendor to prove his property is stable. Both parties have justifiable arguments but it doesn't help the process move..."

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Chapter 20: What a Property Survey Really Means

"... surveyor is not a qualified plumber and will not be carrying out the work so should not quote. The surveyor is not a structural engineer and will not be carrying out the work so should not quote. True Story - Damp at Packington Street Sarah and Nicki had successfully offered on a two..."

"... the surveyor is simply someone who is trained to see tell tale signs that then require you to get a further specialist in. If you want to be thorough and save time then get a valuation survey and at the same time pay for a roofer, plumber, electrician and damp specialist to inspect the property (for freehold properties pay a structural engineer as well). You will short-cut the long survey report and you will know the absolute worst case scenario as each specialist going in will be hunting for work. Then you can take a proper quantified..."

"... fall through, for two reasons: It sounds terrible and most buyers assume the surveyor is qualified to comment It is costly to get a structural engineer in to look at the property If we take London as an example, the fact is that most of the North is built on clay and most of the South is..."

"... to £1,000+ to answer this question and again who pays depends on the balance of power (see The Balance of Power). The structural engineer will come to one of two conclusions: Its fine! Not sure and needs to be monitored Monitoring needs to happen over several months because movement..."

"... Story - The Tree at St Paul's StreetDiane was very keen to purchase a three storey Georgian House in Islington. She offered to pay a little less than the £525,000 being asked and the vendor accepted. Her survey, however, questioned how stable the property was due to a tree situated in the pavement directly outside the front door. The vendor having had no issues when he purchased the property three years earlier refused to pay for a structural engineer to examine the building...."

"... property. Diane ended up buying a two bedroom flat with a roof terrace as by this time the price of houses had gone beyond her budget. Ultimately the £800 required to get a structural engineer in and show the surveyor was overreacting would have been money extremely well spent. " - Types..."

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Chapter 22: Why Vendors are Poorly Prepared

"... is especially useful with freehold properties where the surveyor may question how structurally sound the property is. In this instance if there is a problem the vendor can get the opinion of a structural engineer long before your surveyor even steps through the door. A structural engineer is more highly qualified than a surveyor in these matters so the green light here will most certainly not be questioned by your..."