Structural engineer or surveyor: which do you need?

What a surveyor does

A building surveyor reports on the general condition of a property, covering many elements from damp to roofs. A RICS building survey is broad rather than deep on structure.

What a structural engineer does

A structural engineer assesses the structure specifically: why something is happening, whether it is progressive, and what is needed, with reference to loads and codes. We also design the fix.

Which to choose

For a general condition picture before buying, a surveyor may be enough. For cracking, movement, a removed wall, an extension or anything where you need design and sign-off, you need a structural engineer.