Dangerous structure inspection
An urgent inspection of a structure that may be at risk of collapse, with immediate recommendations to make it safe.
About this service
A dangerous structure inspection is our priority response when part of a building may be about to fail. A bowing garden wall, a chimney stack that has shifted after a storm, a ceiling that has dropped, or alarming cracks uncovered during building work all fall into this category. The aim is simple: judge the immediate risk on site and tell you what must be done right now to keep people safe.
In these situations speed matters more than paperwork. An engineer on site can decide whether an area needs to be cleared, whether temporary props should go in, whether loose masonry should be taken down in a controlled way, or whether the situation is less urgent than it looks. We give that advice face to face, then follow up with a written record signed off by a chartered engineer (MICE).
Councils in London have powers to deal with dangerous structures, and their Building Control or dangerous structures officers may already be involved. A council notice usually requires the owner to make the structure safe within a set time. Our inspection gives you a professional basis for acting quickly, and a record to show the council and your insurer what was found and what was done.
When you need it
- A wall, chimney, ceiling or structure looks like it could fall
- The council has served a dangerous structure notice
- Work on site has uncovered something alarming
What's included
- Priority site visit
- Assessment of the immediate risk
- Make-safe recommendations such as propping, exclusion zones or removal
- Advice on next steps
How it works
- Call us with the detailsDescribe what you can see, send photographs if it is safe to take them, and keep people away from the area. We confirm the fee in writing and arrange a priority visit.
- Assess the risk on siteThe engineer examines the structure from safe positions, judging how close it is to failure, what it is supporting and who or what could be harmed if it moved further.
- Make-safe adviceWe tell you on the spot what is needed, such as an exclusion zone, temporary propping, removal of loose material or restricted use, and who should carry it out.
- Written recordWe issue a written record of the condition found, the risks identified and the measures recommended, suitable for the council, your insurer and the contractor doing the work.
- Plan the permanent fixOnce the structure is stable, we explain the options for permanent repair and which design or report service will be needed, with a fixed fee confirmed before any work starts.
What you receive
Making safe is not the same as repairing
The first job is to stop anyone being hurt. Temporary measures such as props, fencing and controlled taking down are designed for days or weeks, not years. Props on a soft garden or an old floor can themselves settle, so they need checking. If propping is complex, a designed temporary works and propping scheme may be needed, and our guide to temporary works and propping explains what good propping looks like. Permanent repair design is a separate stage and is not part of this inspection.
Typical causes we see include garden and boundary walls leaning under soil pressure or tree roots, chimney stacks weakened by decayed mortar, and floors or walls undermined when builders remove something structural without support. On construction sites, discoveries such as rotten bressummers or missing lintels often trigger a call. Where an excavation is involved, think about neighbours too, as party wall duties may apply.
Not included
- Permanent repair design
Projects that used this service
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call if a wall looks like it is about to collapse?
If there is immediate danger to life, call the emergency services and keep everyone away. Your local council also has a dangerous structures service, often available out of hours. For a professional assessment of what is needed to make the structure safe, and a written record for the council or insurer, a structural engineer should inspect as soon as possible.
What happens when the council serves a dangerous structure notice?
The notice normally requires the owner to make the structure safe within a stated period. If the owner does not act, the council can carry out the work and recover its costs. An engineer's inspection helps you respond quickly with appropriate measures and gives you evidence that the danger has been properly dealt with.
Will my building insurance cover a dangerous structure?
It depends on the cause and your policy. Storm, impact and some collapse damage may be covered, while gradual deterioration and lack of maintenance often are not. Contact your insurer early. Our written record of the condition and likely cause helps them assess the claim, but we cannot predict their decision.
Can a builder just take down a dangerous chimney or wall?
Sometimes controlled removal is the safest option, but it needs care. Removing part of a structure can destabilise what remains, affect a neighbour's property or require notices under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. An engineer should confirm what can be taken down, in what sequence, and what support is needed for the remaining structure.