Homes we inspect in Dulwich
Dulwich Village has Georgian and early Victorian houses, and much of the surrounding area and West Dulwich is managed by the Dulwich Estate, with Victorian, Edwardian and interwar houses in large gardens. East Dulwich is mostly late Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many converted into flats and extended.
Homes covered by the Dulwich Estate's scheme of management usually need the Estate's consent for alterations, as well as planning permission and Building Control approval.
Common structural issues in Dulwich
- Subsidence on clay linked to large trees.
- Cracking in houses with several generations of extensions.
- Loft conversions and side returns in East Dulwich terraces.
- Movement in bays and front walls.
- Heave risk where large trees have been removed.
Ground conditions
Dulwich is mostly on London Clay, with the Claygate beds and sands on the higher ground towards Sydenham Hill. Mature trees on clay make seasonal movement one of the most common causes of cracking we see here.
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 Dulwich
- 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 Dulwich
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 Dulwich from our office on Turnham Green Terrace in Chiswick, with weekday and weekend visits available. See our prices or request a quote.
Local guides
- Cracks in a South East London Home: When to Call a Structural Engineer
- Shrinkable Clay Soil Subsidence Warning Signs
Case study from East Dulwich
- Party wall cracking in an Edwardian terrace divided into flats, East Dulwich. Cracks up to 20 mm in the party wall of an Edwardian terrace in East Dulwich, SE22, with three different causes, a gap in the fire separation and a staged repair.
Nearby areas we cover
See all areas we cover across London.
Common questions
Do you have an office in Dulwich?
No. Our office is at Gable House, 18–24 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QP, and our engineers travel to Dulwich for inspections and site visits.
Do I need the Dulwich Estate's permission for structural work?
If your home is covered by the Estate's scheme of management, usually yes, as well as any planning permission and Building Control approval. We can provide the structural drawings and calculations they will ask to see.
