Buses making house shake - surveyor advice?

longbaygirl

Council have installed road humps in an effort to slow traffic down, problem is the house now shakes every time buses go over the humps. My neighbours have also commented on this.

I'm worried it is doing real damage to the house.

Can a surveyor confirm that the constant vibrations are, or are not doing damage to the house?

How much will it cost to get a surveyors report?

And, if the humps/buses are doing damage can I claim for any repairs from the council?

Comyface

Sorry I'm not a surveyor and can't help, but this happened in my town (not my road). Lots of residents complained to the council and, lo-and-behold, the humps were removed and replaced with cameras instead.

Seemed to happen really quickly as well (to me but, as I say, I didn't have to put up with it). It was in the local paper about the residents being unhappy. The humps were there for a few months I think. Defo less than a year.

What a waste of money by the council (but that's a whole new thread!).

oliverp_2

While your house isn't going to fall down because of it, but any movement to buildings isn't good.

Obviously there are quite large tolerances as to what your house will take but it's possible you could get roof tiles falling or dislodging and cracking the mortar through constant vibrations.

You need to contact the council as soon as possible and INSIST someone comes to visit you.

ShugMonkey

I wouldn't worry too much about damage.
I live next to a railway line and have had no problems at all with structural damage, and the shaking when the large container trains go by is considerable.
Of course, I moved here knowing the noise would be a factor, whereas you didn't ask for the speed humps so if I were you I'd probably be unhappy.

27col

Surely, if there are speed bumps, that means that the traffic is going slower. Buses, in particular will not be going very fast over them. Just because you think that there is a vibration, doesn't mean that any damage is actually being done. In any event I would think that it is too soon to know.
If a crack appears then it can easily be monitored to see if it is getting worse. But if there is no apparently visible damage who is to say what is happening.

roger_c

I hardly think that it is worth the OP waiting to find out!

Best advice seems to be to contact your council or possible get a couple of your neighbours to sign the letter to and see what happens. If enough people object I guess they would do something about it.

longbaygirl

Thanks for all the advice. We are getting a residents petition together to send to the council, and wil get local press to highlight.

Will let you know how we get on.

wightbobbyp

we have the same problem, but worry that writing to the council to improve the road, will show up on searches when we try to sell our house. is this the case?

Mankysteve

Dont know but fat chance of getting you council to spend any money.