...someone to look at the property? I'm asking on behalf of a friend of mine, who's just in the process of buying her first house. The homebuyers report has mentioned that there might be or has in the past been an issue of subsidence. Does anyone on the Shefforum know of a reputable company that could go have a look at the property? I wouldn't know where to start but reckon somone out there will!

It may not be necessary. The homebuyer's report will have a list of various faults that may or may not need sorting, they rarely say there's nothing wrong with the house at all. Old houses usually have lots of things wrong with them - of varying seriousness. So the buyer has to decide whether it's worth paying for further advice - it may turn out to be well worth it if the house is really dodgy, on the other hand it may not be a serious fault so not worth the extra cost.

If you get a full structural survey that would tell you exactly whether it's a major problem or not and what to do to fix it, but obviously that will cost another few hundred quid - unless you happen to know a building surveyor or structural engineer.