Viewed house... but it has two big vertical cracks... subsidence??

neas

Theres no conservatory, its a sliding door (conservatory style sorry). The house is as originally built... maybe the sliding (conservatory style) door was put in later... but 4 out of 8 houses I saw on the road had similar cracks from windows down to top of door.

Link here:

http://www.fulfords.co.uk/content/009_Results/002_Property/property-sales-rpsFUL-PLY090242-1262170668

the bedroom with big door is the door that has the big ext.ernal cracks under it.

I only just noticed its chain free.. so either repossession or someone died!

Milliewilly

Looks like its on a hillside so thats a warning sign. Also I wouldn't expect cracks that you describe in what looks like a fairly new property unless there is recent movement.

No chain could mean moving into rented or in with partner etc.

Bat it back to the sellers and ask them about the cracks. By law they have to give you a full and truthful answer on everything they know or its misrepresentation. I would be wary about paying for my own survey as it is probably bad news / deal braker.

poppysarah

Never mind the cracks, whats the chimney in the last picture?

Milliewilly

Hee Hee - well spotted looks like a Council or Hospital incinerator. Surprised the EA let that sneak in on the pictures.

I viewed a house recently and god knows what angle the photos had been taken at to avoid the 3 massive cooling towers in the background.

neas

man you guys are good. didnt even seen chimney lol.

I wish i'd taken pics of back wall (where the cracks are)... obv EA wont show cracks on rightmove heh.

g_attrill

Milliewilly wrote: »

I viewed a house recently and god knows what angle the photos had been taken at to avoid the 3 massive cooling towers in the background.

Reminds me of this house!

And it sold!

Davesnave

neas wrote: »

man you guys are good. didnt even seen chimney lol.

I wish i'd taken pics of back wall (where the cracks are)... obv EA wont show cracks on rightmove heh.

First rule of viewing: always take a camera with you.

They aren't that good: the chimney is the incinerator at Derriford Hospital and it's half a mile away. Not only that, but the prevailing wind is taking whatever it's putting out away from this location.;)

More relevant is the china clay works nearby. Do they mine it there, and if so, what does that say about the sub-soil and chance of slippage? Clay is notorious for that, especially on slopes where there may have been springs. I lived in a rental recently where most of the estate had subsidence because of this; damn glad I hadn't bought it!

On the other hand, Homecheck states there is just a medium risk of subsidence in this postcode.
http://www.homecheck.co.uk/EnvSummary.do

That isn't awful, but only a survey will tell you for sure.

My main concern with this house is that it's built on a north-facing slope, so sun at the back, and not so much at this time of year. It's a good size for the money, but there's little outside space.

Davesnave

g_attrill wrote: »

Reminds me of this house!

And it sold!

If you Google 'Derek Jarman' you will maybe understand why.

missile

If the cracks are putting you off, they are likely to put off a.n.others when you want to sell.

keith969

I used to live in PL4 which is not too far away. I somewhat doubt its subsidence as its not clay soil around there, its more likely a constructional fault especially if all the houses have a similar problem.

When we came to sell our house one buyer's surveyor noticed a crack in the hall and put down 'possible subsidence'. It wasn't, it was a 150 year old house with two foot thick granite walls... but it still put off the buyer. So even the crack is nothing to worry about you may want to walk away if its going to give you problems selling later.