Homes we inspect in Hampstead
Hampstead Village has Georgian and earlier houses on narrow, hilly streets, many of them listed. Around them are large Victorian and Edwardian houses, Arts and Crafts homes, mansion flats and houses converted into flats. Most of Hampstead is in conservation areas.
Basements and extensions are tightly controlled here, and Camden asks for detailed assessments of ground and groundwater conditions for basement proposals.
Common structural issues in Hampstead
- Movement on slopes, especially where retaining walls hold back gardens.
- Seasonal movement on clay near large trees.
- Springs and groundwater affecting foundations.
- Historic movement in older houses.
- Cracking after neighbouring basement work.
Ground conditions
Hampstead's high ground is capped by the Bagshot sands, with the Claygate beds and London Clay below. Where the sands meet the clay, springs emerge, and several of London's lost rivers, including the Fleet and the Westbourne, rise on these slopes. Ground conditions can change sharply over a short distance.
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 Hampstead
- 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 Hampstead
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 Hampstead 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 Hampstead?
No. Our office is at Gable House, 18–24 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QP, and our engineers travel to Hampstead for inspections and site visits.
Are cracks more of a concern on a slope?
They can be. On sloping ground, movement may come from the slope itself, from retaining walls or from water running through the ground, as well as from trees. An inspection looks at the setting as well as the building to work out the likely cause.
