Recently bought a flat (1870s victorian conversion) in london’s gritty south london and there are a couple of issues that should really be looked at. They include a couple of damp patches high on a wall (pretty sure this is penetrating damp from a poorly installed fan cowling on the outside), a slightly dropped ceiling (plasterboard over lath and plaster) and some minor cracks in the walls.

Who’s best to get in to look at it, builder, surveyor or structural engineer?

thanks

get the builder in if you want it fixed – the others can only assess, depends how confident you are that these are small issues

I’m pretty confident there’s nothing major wrong, but apparently saying it’ll be fine is not enough to appease the girlfriend. Probably worth the cost of a surveyor to make my home life a little more bearable.

Get a decent builder. Throwing money away with the surveyor.

Yep, you already own it so a surveyors of no use. Decent builder.

Yep, a reliable builder who you can trust. Both are common problems in late 1800 buildings.
You’ll need the penetrating damp fixed, the ceiling could stay like that for ages longer. (if you can bear it)