Cracking / structural movement — builder claim in West Sussex County Council
The short answer: for cracking / structural movement in West Sussex County Council, your claim stands on three documents: the contract scope, dated photographs of the cracking / structural movement, and an independent cost to remedy. Whether you need a surveyor's report depends on the money at stake — below roughly £1,500, photographs plus remedial quotes usually carry a small claim.
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-03
What makes a cracking claim win
Not all cracks are defects — shrinkage cracking is common and minor; stepped cracking through brickwork or cracks around new openings are not. A surveyor distinguishes the two in writing, which is precisely what a judge needs.
Full project detail: cracking / structural movement and the defect guide.
Do you need a surveyor's report in West Sussex County Council?
Find a chartered surveyor via RICS Find a Surveyor — filter for building pathologists or dispute-resolution experience. Reports for small claims typically run a few hundred pounds; that fee is part of your schedule of loss when the claim succeeds.
The route in West Sussex County Council
1. Letter before action with the defects list and quotes attached — 14-day deadline. 2. Report to West Sussex County Council Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer service — council page (verified 2026-09-04). 3. Unresolved: small claims.
Independent information directory — not legal advice.
Sources: RICS; https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards-information-for-consumers/report-an-incident-or-issue-to-trading-standards (verified 2026-09-04).
Reviewed by Sean McNamara · 2026-09-03 · Independent information directory — not legal advice.