Homes we inspect in Clapham
Around Clapham Common and Clapham Old Town there are Georgian and early Victorian houses, some of them listed. Away from the Common, most streets are lined with Victorian and Edwardian terraces and semis, and a large share have been converted into flats. There are also mansion blocks and modern developments.
Conversions are often where structural questions start: walls and chimney breasts removed to open up a flat, new bathrooms and kitchens on old timber floors, and lofts converted above. Leaseholders usually need their freeholder's consent as well as Building Control approval.
Common structural issues in Clapham
- Cracks at bay windows, which often sit on shallower foundations than the main walls.
- Movement near the mature trees on and around the Common.
- Removed walls and chimney breasts in converted flats without adequate support.
- Floors that have sagged under later alterations.
- Cracking after building work next door, including basements and extensions.
Ground conditions
Clapham has London Clay in places and river terrace gravels in others. On clay, trees close to the house are the most common reason for seasonal movement; on gravels, leaking drains are a more frequent cause.
We check the British Geological Survey records for every address we inspect, because ground conditions can change from one street to the next.
Services in Clapham
- Structural inspections: Specific (SSI) from £420*, General (GSI) from £540* and Comprehensive (CGSI) from £880*.
- Mortgage structural reports when your lender's valuer asks for an engineer.
- Insurance structural reports and subsidence investigations.
- Wall and chimney breast removal calculations for Building Control.
- Extension and loft conversion design.
- Freeholder consent reports for leasehold flats.
* Prices are a guide only and VAT may be added. Contact us for an accurate price.
Arranging an inspection in Clapham
Send us the postcode, whether it is a house or a flat, how many bedrooms it has and a few photos of what you have noticed, or your valuer's letter. We will recommend the right service and give you a price in writing before you book. Our engineers travel to Clapham from our office on Turnham Green Terrace in Chiswick, with weekday and weekend visits available. See our prices or request a quote.
Local guides
Nearby areas we cover
See all areas we cover across London.
Common questions
Do you have an office in Clapham?
No. Our office is at Gable House, 18–24 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QP, and our engineers travel to Clapham for inspections and site visits.
Can you inspect a flat I am buying in Clapham?
Yes. For one concern raised by a surveyor, a Specific Structural Inspection is usually enough. If you want the structure of the flat and the building looked at more widely, a General Structural Inspection covers it, and we can prepare the report your lender needs.
