Heave, Subsidence And Landslip

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Hi, we have just received our report.We are buying a house built in 1905.Where it says, is there any evidence of heave, subsidence or landslip in the property or surrounding land it states yes to both,however it does say that the movement in both is historic and very longstanding with no evidence of recent or continuing movement.Is this ok do you think.
The property we are buying is in good condition and has been very well maintained and the report states that it is in need of no repairs and is suitable security for mortgage purposes.No funds need to be withheld.
What I am unhappy about is the movement problem should I be concerned.Thanks in advance.

clutton_2

i would not be concerned at all - historic movement is generally just that, historic, and is most unlikely to occur again. Surveyors are so full of "belt and braces" these days that the report would have said something if there was any likelihood of modern subsidence.

Doozergirl

You'll be fine. All houses settle over time and if your surveyor is happy then you should be too. There is no question that a mortgage company surveyor would ask for further investigation if he had any worries.

courtjester

I would say this is probably normal and included in the survey report to protect the surveyors back. Most older properties like Victorian homes were built on quite shallow foundations and the structures will tend to have had some historic movement naturally due to nromal ground settlement over a very long period (is the property in an area subjected to bombing during the war? This was the cause of a lot of vibration damage in built up areas, which once made good nevertheless left its evidence) - the building materials used allow for this and hence you get wonky doorways and ceilings and floors not lining up - this is often referred to as 'character'.

There should be no obvious signs of cracks more than hairline, but the surveyor will doubtless have commented on any serious signs of (current) movement like open cracks.

As long as there is no evidence of recent or ongoing movement - possibly caused by excessive drought or the presence of nearby trees, poor soil conditions or leaking drains, some of the most common causes of subsidence - and no large trees have been removed from close to the property over the last 3-5 years (possible cause of heave - the opposite of subsidence where the ground swells up under the building) then any 'character' distortion in the building can prove acceptable - the experts appear to think its OK as they say it is suitable security for mortgage purposes.

sazale

I recently had a survey done with virtually the same wording but it also said could not guarantee that there would be no further movement!!! I rang the surveyor and he was more than happy to speak to me and said was a standard phrase that our bank insists they use and not to bother getting a specialist report done as the building is fine. Give the surveyor a ring it will set your mind at ease.