George Lifely, CEng MICE, AssocRICS

A dual qualified Chartered Engineer and RICS surveyor, based in Bristol and Gloucester, who does one thing: independent structural inspections of cracks and movement, with a plain language report in your hands within 24 hours.

Why the two qualifications matter

Most structural problems in houses sit in the gap between two professions. Surveyors are trained to spot the signs and know when to worry, but are not engineers. Engineers understand why a building moves, but many have spent their careers on new design rather than looking at old houses.

George is both. As a Chartered Engineer (CEng MICE) he can read what a crack is telling you about the structure behind it. As an RICS surveyor (AssocRICS) he understands how a house is built, how it ages, and how a defect fits into the wider picture of the property. That combination means you get one clear answer rather than two professionals each pointing at the other.

Experience

George has carried out thousands of inspections across Bristol, London and the South West, on everything from Victorian terraces and 1930s semis to bridges and commercial buildings. Before specialising in inspection work he spent years in design, including flood defences, bridges, a couple of 20-storey residential towers, and a long list of house extensions and alterations.

That design background is what makes the inspection work different. Having designed the beams, foundations and walls, George knows what they are supposed to do, which makes it much easier to see when they are not doing it.

Why only inspections

Lifelys does not carry out repairs, produce designs or prepare calculations. That is deliberate.

If the person inspecting your house also repairs houses, there is a built in reason for the report to find work. We do not repair, design or calculate, so we earn nothing from what the report says. That leaves us free to tell you the crack is cosmetic, which it usually is, or that it needs looking at, which it sometimes does.

The Lifelys story

Lifelys was started in Gloucester in 2007 by George’s father as a residential surveying practice. George grew up around the business, studied engineering at the University of Bristol, and after a career in structural design in London returned to take over the firm.

Since then the practice has moved to Bristol and narrowed its focus to structural inspection only. The name has changed slightly, but the approach has not: an experienced professional looking carefully at your house and telling you plainly what they see.

Why local matters

Bristol and Gloucester’s housing stock is varied and its ground conditions change from one street to the next. Clay on one side of a road and rock on the other, Victorian terraces built over old quarry ground, 1930s semis on shrinkable soil. Knowing the area means knowing what is normal for a particular street and what is not.

Being local also means we can get to you quickly, usually within one to two weeks.

How we work

Honest advice. If a crack does not matter, we will say so.

Independence. Nothing to sell you after the report.

Plain language. Written for you, not for another engineer.

Long term thinking. We would rather be recommended by a surveyor in ten years than win a job today.

Professional standing

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE)

Associate Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (AssocRICS)

Professional indemnity insurance is in place and confirmation can be provided with your quote.

Away from work

George lives in Bristol, and can usually be found walking in the Cotswolds or watching the rugby at weekends. He is still a Gloucester fan!