What is a Certificate of Structural Adequacy?
A CoSA is a single page document giving summary information about the cause of the subsidence, what mitigation measures were undertaken to resolve it, and what repairs were carried out.
It is certified by a structural engineering, building surveying or other appropriate professional consultancy with extensive experience in subsidence matters, following a study of the available paperwork / an inspection of the building, and backed by professional indemnity insurance cover. They are usually issued by the consultancy which carries out the investigations and advises on the mitigation & repair in the first instance (often the loss adjusters), but can also be issued retrospectively later by another appropriate consultancy practise which has reviewed the case and is satisfied that the job was done properly and thoroughly. There is no standard requirement for them to be given by particular individuals (such as Chartered Structural Engineers) – just by a trusted practise with appropriate experience in the field of subsidence and the usual Professional Indemnity insurance cover.
The IStructE guide states “Such a Certificate would not be a Warranty or Guarantee but it would be a considered professional opinion by an Expert”. Whilst it is not a guarantee, it is widely accepted by insurers and lenders as evidence of what the cause of the subsidence was found to be and how it was resolved. These documents are used by insurers and lenders for satisfaction that a past subsidence problem was properly mitigated and repaired and help them assess the risk they are being asked to insure / lend against.
With increasing frequency, insurers are requiring these certificates on cases which have a history of subsidence (however far in the past) before quoting, yet they are not always available – sometimes they become lost or are not passed on with house sale documents, and there is no way of ascertaining who issued them (or even if they were issued at all). Retrospective Certificates are therefore an invaluable document for enabling sales to go through smoothly and / or insurance cover to be given on reasonable terms.
At B&SC, we offer retrospective CoSAs from £295 + vat on cases where there is sufficient information for us to be satisfied of the structural adequacy of the subsidence mitigation & repair. In a few cases this is not possible without carrying out intrusive investigations or a period of structural monitoring – contact us to find out what we can offer in your case.