Survey Back - Bad News?

groundforce_2

Hi guys

We had a survey done on Friday for the house we are buying. Although the surveyor hasn't had time to write his report up yet, we did speak on the telephone and he said that there was "possible subsidence to the front side of the house and also the drains seemed problematic". The drain problem we can sort out, but is it as bad as it seems re the subsidence? I've had a look on the internet and found out some info, but has this happened to anyone else when buying a property and can anybody give me some advice on whether to still proceed with the house or pull out. We love the house and would hate to lose it, but wondered if there was anything else we can do before making the final decision. We were wondering about a structural engineer having a look, but would he just cover himself and say that there was possible subsidence or would he be able to clarify it once and for all. Subsidence is such a scary word and it's really upsetting me to think that we may no longer proceed with the sale. Many thanks in advance.

guppy

Its impossible to guess before he's even sent you the report.

He may mean that a drain has collapsed, allowing water to escape and causing the possible subsidence or something completely different. Have the sellers ever made an insurance claim?

A structural engineer may not be able to do much since you don't own the house (he can't dig down to look at the foundations for example).

Post again once you've got the report.

groundforce_2

The drains are on the opposite side to where the "possible subsidence" is, so he has told us that there is nothing to do with the drainage - that is a separate issue. The sellers aren't the most helpful people in the world as they are separated and hardly speak to each other, making the whole process very painful anyway! I intend speak to my solicitor tomorrow to see what he says our options are - we are due to exchange Wednesday week, but am assuming that this will be delayed now?

GDB2222

You cannot possibly buy this house without getting a quote for underpinning, which can run into tens of thousands. Sometimes, people have to move out for the work to be done. Your vendors can make a claim on their insurance and pass the benefit of the claim to you. To be frank, why bother?

planemad

Is the house - Detached, Terrace ot semi?

"Possible Subsidence"

All houses move slightly especially for the first few years of being build this is called settlement and can cause cracks in the pointing or on the internal walls.
Sometimes this settlement is never re pointed and looks worst than what it is.

For the surveyor to point this out to you its must be serious and I would take on board what he says maybe even meet the surveyor at the property and he can show and explain to you the defects.

I would get a structural engineer onto it as well if you are really want the property.
If not walk away.

DON'T exchange until you are happy.

Good Luck and please keep us updated.

wymondham

planemad wrote: »

I would get a structural engineer onto it as well if you are really want the property.
If not walk away.

DON'T exchange until you are happy.

Good advice. I would add not to go ahead unless you have a clear answer as to the problem and know the costs beforehand, and get the seller to pay for all costs in relation to this, or get a good discount. Depending on the report back you might get a retention by your mortgage lender which will complicate things...

With the current market, maybe easier to look at another property rather than go through all this?

geoffky

i bet your glad you have paid for this survey.....

groundforce_2

The house is detached and has had extensive remodelling both downstairs and upstairs with two bedrooms added upstairs. I shall take to the solicitor tomorrow to see what he says is the best way forward, but intend to get a structural engineer to take a look too once it has been discused with the seller. Also will make sure the seller pays too if he wants to go forward which we think is in his best interests as anybody else that buys the house if we walk away subject to them having a survey will find the same problem!! The surveyor did say it could be down to seasonal conditions/tree roots or something else.

TomsMom

groundforce wrote: »

Also will make sure the seller pays too if he wants to go forward which we think is in his best interests as anybody else that buys the house if we walk away subject to them having a survey will find the same problem!!

Now that the problem has been found by the surveyor, once the information is passed onto the estate agent then the agent is obliged to pass the information on to any other prospective purchaser, no need to go as far as a survey for a new purchaser.

We have recently been in a similar situation with a house we are buying. Our survey uncovered a major structural problem with the loft - vendor did a DIY loft conversion, removed the supports for the roof and cut into a purlin to make headroom on the staircase. Over time the weight of the unsupported roof has caused twisting of the window frame and other problems. The estate agent told the vendors that if we pulled out and any other person was interested she would have to reveal this problem and that if they took it to another agent she would also be obliged to tell them.

In our case the vendor is paying (massively, to the tune of £30,000) to have his stupid mistake (he was a builder :eek: ) put right by reducing the price of the property by the amount of the cost of rebuilding the loft.

guppy

TomsMom wrote: »

In our case the vendor is paying (massively, to the tune of £30,000) to have his stupid mistake (he was a builder :eek: ) put right by reducing the price of the property by the amount of the cost of rebuilding the loft.

So cowboy builders don't just wreck other people's houses?

I imagine he was one of these people that moan about building control being a waste of time and money too, especially for "experienced" people like him who "know what they are doing" :rolleyes:

huntersc

TomsMom wrote: »

Now that the problem has been found by the surveyor, once the information is passed onto the estate agent then the agent is obliged to pass the information on to any other prospective purchaser, no need to go as far as a survey for a new purchaser.

If only it worked like that. We were going to buy a house in 2001, nice place, agent told s a few people had moved out because they didn't like the concrete roof tiles. I thought it a bit odd that multiple people would think this I should have pulled out there and then but i made the offer and got a full structural survey. That cost me about £1500 back then. It turned out that the roof was about the cave in! All the supports had been taken out, the concrete tiles were too heavy and no steel had been put in for support.

When I went back to the agent he said that he wasn't allowed to pass on the info because the previous survey had been confidential. I spoke to my solicitor and he said it wasn't worth chasing. I'd be surprised if many EAs pass on negative survey info.