Saggy floors / remodelling house, where to start

onthego

I bought my 120 year old terraced house a year ago. It had wonky floors but the survey said "There was no evidence of any significant structural issues to the property; the property has experienced some historic movement but there was no evidence to suggest that this is ongoing". So I bought it.

It is definitely getting worse, floors and ceilings sagging around the two staircases. I suspect it's due to previous owners taking out internal walls. Though the house is on a hill with mines in!

I've got an agreement in principle for mortgage to pay for building work. I would like to get the inside of the house remodelled as well as getting it all stabilised - ideally I'd like to relocate the upstairs staircase and move the bathroom.

I've been phoning round builders leaving messages, but just spoke to one FMB builder who said I need to get a structural report first saying what is needed before any builder will touch it, because the structural engineers have the insurance to cover if they recommend something that doesn't fix it. He started talking about boring holes to test soil etc.
Is that right? I thought I could go to a building company and they could sort out the detailed design and structural checks/building regs etc for me as part of the process?
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, but need to get it sorted so it doesn't fall down!
I'm in South Wales valleys between Merthyr/Abergavenny/Newport/Cardiff, I will be very grateful if anyone has any good advice or recommendations of where I should be starting please! Many thanks.

Furts

Boring into the soil may have to be done but you are nowhere near having to make that decision - so forget it, certainly for now.

Get a Structural Engineer on board, show them the survey, explain that movement seems to be happening, explain that you think the previous owners removed internal walls and explain your desire for re- modelling. The Structural Engineer can then weigh all this up and present you with a report containing facts and proposals - perhaps with rough costs for budget purposes. Then ask the SE for names of competent designers to do drawings and a specification (they may do these for you) and names of competent builders that you can go to for quotes .

onthego

Thank you Furts. What you said is what has happened. No holes needing boring, thank goodness!

I have discovered I really like structural engineers. I've only ever met two, but they were both smart, nice, straightforward, no messing, got on it, did what they said they would.