This article was updated on 20th August 2026
A Certificate of Structural Adequacy, commonly shortened to CSA, is a document issued after a property has been professionally investigated and, where necessary, structural repairs have been completed.
It is particularly associated with subsidence claims. The certificate records the professional’s opinion about the structural adequacy of the property, or the affected part of it, based on the investigations and work undertaken.
A CSA may help demonstrate to an insurer, mortgage lender or prospective buyer that an identified structural problem has been investigated and addressed. However, it is not a guarantee that no further movement will occur, nor does it automatically guarantee that a property will be accepted for a mortgage or home insurance.
A Certificate of Structural Adequacy is normally issued after a property has been investigated and any necessary structural repairs have been completed.
It provides a professional opinion about the structural adequacy of the property, or the affected part of it, based on the evidence available at the time. This may include site investigations, movement monitoring, repair specifications and inspections of completed work.
The Institution of Structural Engineers provides professional guidance on subsidence investigation and includes a sample Certificate of Structural Adequacy within its technical guidance.
The precise format can vary, but a CSA would normally identify:
A schedule of works, engineering reports, monitoring results and other supporting documents may be supplied separately.
A Certificate of Structural Adequacy may be helpful in several circumstances.
A CSA is commonly issued at the conclusion of an insured subsidence claim, once the cause has been investigated, the property has been shown to be stable and the necessary repairs have been completed.
It helps document how the claim was resolved and what work was undertaken.
A buyer or their solicitor may ask for evidence relating to previous subsidence or structural repairs. A CSA can form part of that evidence, alongside the claim history, engineering reports, monitoring records and schedule of works.
It does not replace the buyer’s own survey or legal enquiries.
A mortgage lender or surveyor may want more information if a property has a history of structural movement. A CSA can help explain the cause, investigations and completed repairs, although the lender may still request a current structural report or further evidence.
Insurers may request a CSA when considering a property with a history of subsidence or structural repairs. It can help an underwriter understand what happened and how the problem was resolved.
However, the certificate is only one part of the evidence an insurer may consider.
A CSA should be prepared and signed by a suitably qualified professional who has sufficient knowledge of the investigation and repairs to support the conclusions they are making.
This will commonly be a structural engineer. In an insurer-managed subsidence claim, the certificate may be arranged through the insurer, loss adjuster or appointed engineering firm.
Where repairs are being arranged privately, it is important to appoint an appropriate professional before work begins. The professional may need to investigate the cause, specify the repairs and inspect the work at relevant stages.
It may be difficult for someone who was not involved in the original investigation or repairs to issue a certificate retrospectively, particularly if important work is no longer visible or supporting records are unavailable.
The appropriate route depends on how the structural issue was handled.
Ask your insurer or appointed loss adjuster whether a CSA will be provided when the claim and repairs are complete.
A certificate would not normally be issued while the cause remains under investigation, the property is still being monitored or the necessary repairs have not been completed.
Read our guide to home insurance while subsidence monitoring is underway for more information about cover during this period.
Check the documents supplied when the claim was closed. If you cannot find a CSA, contact the insurer, loss adjuster or engineering company involved in the claim.
You should also look for:
These documents can provide useful supporting evidence even if the original certificate cannot immediately be located.
Contact a chartered structural engineer with appropriate experience. They will need to consider the property, the original cause of the damage, the repairs undertaken and the evidence available.
An inspection alone may not provide enough information for a professional to certify work completed by someone else, especially where the repairs have been covered by plaster, flooring or other finishes.
There is no standard price for obtaining a CSA.
Where the certificate is issued at the conclusion of an insurer-managed claim, it would normally be arranged as part of the claim-handling and repair process.
If you appoint a professional privately, the cost will depend on factors including:
It is sensible to obtain a written quotation explaining what investigations, inspections and documents are included.
A CSA records a professional opinion based on the condition of the property, the evidence available and the repairs completed at the time it was issued.
It should be retained permanently with the property’s records. Nevertheless, an insurer, lender or buyer may request more recent evidence, particularly if:
If new movement is suspected, the existence of an older CSA should not be treated as evidence that the current problem is harmless.
These documents serve different purposes.
| Document | What it normally shows |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Structural Adequacy | Records a professional opinion following investigation and, where necessary, repair of a particular structural problem. |
| Structural engineer’s report | Assesses a structural concern and may recommend investigations, monitoring or repairs. |
| Building survey | Provides a broader assessment of a property’s condition for a buyer or owner. |
| Building Regulations completion certificate | Confirms that relevant building work has been inspected and complies with applicable Building Regulations. |
| Repair guarantee or warranty | Covers specified work subject to its individual terms and limitations. |
A property may have more than one of these documents. Possessing one does not necessarily remove the need for the others.
A Certificate of Structural Adequacy can be valuable evidence when applying for home insurance after subsidence or structural repairs. However, it does not automatically mean that subsidence cover will be available.
An insurer may also ask for:
Different insurers apply different underwriting criteria. Cover may be subject to a higher subsidence excess, exclusions, endorsements or other conditions.
It remains important to disclose the property’s complete history, even where a CSA has been issued. Failing to provide accurate information could affect the validity of the policy or a future claim.
If your existing insurer is handling an open subsidence claim, remaining with that insurer until the claim and repairs are concluded will often be the most practical option where continued cover is available.
The existence of a CSA can be helpful when considering a property with previous structural movement, but buyers should examine the complete history rather than relying on the certificate alone.
Consider asking for:
Your solicitor, surveyor and proposed insurer should have an opportunity to review the relevant information before you commit to the purchase.
It may be possible to arrange home insurance for a property with a history of subsidence or structural repairs, but acceptance and terms will depend on the individual circumstances.
At Intelligent Insurance, we arrange specialist subsidence home insurance for a range of non-standard property situations. This can include properties with previous subsidence claims, completed remedial work or a history of underpinning.
A CSA can help an insurer assess the risk, but additional reports and supporting evidence may still be required.
Find out more about our specialist subsidence insurance or get a quote online.
No. It provides a professional opinion based on the investigations and repairs undertaken. It is not an unlimited guarantee against future movement or other structural problems.
Normally, the investigation, any required monitoring and remedial work would need to be concluded before a CSA could be issued. The professional must have enough evidence to provide a supported opinion about the property.
It is not automatically required for every sale. However, a buyer, solicitor, surveyor or mortgage lender may request one where there is a history of subsidence or structural repairs.
No. Each insurer will consider the property and its history against its own underwriting criteria. A CSA is useful evidence, but insurers may request additional information or apply particular terms.
Contact the insurer, loss adjuster, structural engineer or surveying firm that handled the original claim or repairs. They may retain a copy or be able to supply related reports and the schedule of works.
No. An engineer’s report may investigate and diagnose a problem or recommend repairs. A CSA is normally issued after the relevant investigation and repair process has concluded.
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