What is the difference between a building survey and a structural survey?

There is no difference between either and they are actually the same survey. The RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) previously called the Building Survey a Structural survey but changed the wording to prevent people thinking that the fabric of the building would be opened up and inspected. Our structural survey page sets out the distinction in full, including where a structural inspection by an engineer is the right thing to instruct instead.