Do PG owners in Delhi need a structural safety certificate?
Yes, if the MCD has asked for it in your area. In 2026 the MCD asked paying guest (PG) accommodations to submit structural safety certificates issued by MCD-authorised private structural engineers. The certificate is the engineer's signed opinion that the building is safe for the number of residents and the use it is being put to.
The requirement and its timelines are set by the MCD through notices for each zone. Owners should read the current MCD notice for their zone, or check with the zonal office, for the exact format, deadline and submission process. This guide covers the engineering side: what the engineer looks at and how to prepare.
Why has the MCD asked PGs for structural certificates?
Many PGs and hostels in Delhi run in buildings that were built as family homes and later extended with extra floors, partitions and water tanks to house more people. That changes the loads on the structure. According to news reports, the MCD surveyed about 2,457 PGs, and at one point only about 250 had submitted structural safety certificates.
The certificate gives the MCD, and the residents, a record that a qualified engineer has inspected the building and found it safe for its present use, or has said what must be done to make it safe.
For owners, the certificate is also useful in its own right. It records the condition of the building at a point in time, which helps when dealing with insurers and with parents of students who want to know the accommodation is safe, and it can bring problems to light before they become expensive or dangerous.
Who needs a structural safety certificate for a PG or hostel?
The owner or operator of the building is responsible for getting it. Where the operator leases the building from the owner, the two should agree early who will arrange the inspection and pay for any repairs, since the engineer will need access to the whole building, including the roof and any basement.
- PG accommodation owners and operators
- Boys' and girls' hostels run privately
- Buildings in coaching areas let out to students, such as rooms over shops or institutes
- Owners of buildings converted from residential use to PG or hostel use
Who can issue the certificate for a PG building?
The MCD has asked for certificates from MCD-authorised private structural engineers. Check that the engineer you engage holds a current MCD structural engineer licence and that the licence number appears on the certificate.
Er. B.P. Singh is an MCD licensed structural engineer (Lic. No. E-1138), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India), and has been inspecting and certifying buildings in Delhi since 1993.
What does the structural engineer check in a PG building?
The engineer inspects the full building and compares the way it is used now with what it was built for. In PGs, the main concern is usually additional load from more floors, more occupants, more water tanks and heavier partitions than the original structure was designed for.
- Columns, beams and slabs for cracks, spalling and exposed or rusting steel
- Sagging slabs or beams, and signs of settlement in the foundation
- Floors added later, and whether the lower structure can carry them
- Water tanks, mobile towers and other heavy items on the roof
- Balconies, projections, staircases and parapets
- Walls or columns removed or cut during internal changes
- Dampness and leakage from bathrooms and roofs that may be weakening the structure
- Basements and their use
Common reasons a PG building fails the structural check
Most failures come from alterations made over the years without an engineer's input, rather than from the original construction. Typical findings in PG and hostel buildings include:
- Extra floors built on a structure designed for fewer
- Corrosion of reinforcement in slabs and columns from long-term leakage
- Columns or load-bearing walls removed to make bigger rooms or shops
- Heavy water tanks placed on slabs without support
- Cracked or weakened balconies and cantilevers
- Poor quality concrete, found through tests in older buildings
What happens if the engineer finds problems?
If the building is safe, the engineer issues the certificate. If it is not, the engineer gives written recommendations for repairs or retrofitting, such as jacketing of columns, repair of corroded slabs, removing or relocating heavy loads, or reducing the use of certain floors until work is done.
Once the repairs are carried out and checked, the certificate can be issued. Owners should not expect a certificate for a building that has not been made safe. Non-destructive tests such as rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity may be used during the inspection or after repairs to confirm the condition of the concrete.
Repairs and retrofitting should be carried out by a competent contractor under the supervision of an engineer, following the recommendations given. Where the work is substantial, residents may need to be moved off the affected floors while it is done. Keep a record of the work, with photographs and bills, as the engineer will want to see what was done before certifying the building.
What should PG owners prepare before the inspection?
Having these ready helps the engineer complete the inspection in one visit. If drawings are not available, the engineer will measure the structure on site.
- The MCD notice or letter received, if any
- Sanctioned building plan and structural drawings, if available
- Ownership document or lease agreement
- Number of floors, rooms and residents on each floor
- Details of any floors or alterations added after construction
- Earlier structural certificates or repair records
- Access to the roof, basement, tank areas and all rooms
How to get a PG structural safety certificate from the practice
Share the MCD notice and the building details. A site inspection is fixed, tests are carried out if the condition calls for them, and you then receive either a signed structural safety certificate or a written list of repairs needed before one can be issued.
If you own or run more than one PG, mention all the buildings at the start so the inspections can be planned together. The office is at Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi.
Frequently asked questions
Is a structural safety certificate compulsory for PGs in Delhi?
The MCD has asked PG accommodations to submit one from an MCD-authorised structural engineer. Check the current MCD notice for your zone for the exact requirement and deadline.
Who can sign the structural safety certificate for a PG?
An MCD-authorised private structural engineer. Er. B.P. Singh is an MCD licensed structural engineer, Lic. No. E-1138.
What if my PG building needs repairs?
The engineer gives written recommendations for repair or retrofitting. The certificate is issued once the work is done and checked.
Does the engineer need to see every floor?
Yes. The engineer needs access to the whole building, including the roof, water tank areas, basement and occupied rooms, to assess the structure properly.
Do hostels and coaching-area buildings also need it?
Buildings used as hostels or student housing have the same structural concerns as PGs. Owners should check whether the MCD notice for their zone covers their building.