Buying a semi. But next door has been underpinned.

ruggedtoast

Just got the searches back from the semi-detached we are buying.

It shows that the adjoining house had planning permission approved for underpinning filled land on their gable and flank wall in the 1980s.

This would probably explain the presence of some long repaired cracking to 'our' property our Homebuyers report mentioned as having been done and not having reoccurred.

Problem, not a problem? I'm predominantly talking about insurance and resale, although there is no evidence that underpinning has ever been required on 'our' part of the building.

clutton_2

if it was done in early 80's then it has been structurally sound for 30 years, so i doubt there is now anything to worry about - but to be on the safe side, i would get a structural survey done and brief the surveyor Beforehand as to these issues....

Jenniefour

Structural survey - and let surveyor know what's come up the searches.

ruggedtoast

Thanks, and bump for the morning crowd.

sunshinetours

Its better that it has been done rather than not if you see what I mean!
Presumably the fact that semi's are joined means that if one wall on one house suffers some serious movement it can potentially jeapordise both houses.
AS others have said just either get a full survey and highlight your findings

ruggedtoast

The Homebuyers survey was pretty adamant that the house is structurally ok, apart from possible cavity wall tie failure to look into (I had a builder superficially look at it and they couldnt see any evidence of this however) and some non progressive stepped cracking you'd expect on a house that age.

I called the surveyor company who insisted if they'd seen any evidence of movement they'd have mentioned it, and as next door's was so long ago I probably shouldnt worry about it.

The problem is its the house next door that has / has had the problem, so I'm not sure what good having another survey done on the one I want to buy would do.

If it starts sinking into the pit of oblivion there would be damage to anything its attached to of course.

The council wont tell me what the nature of the filled land that was underpinned was as I'm not the owner, so I'm none the wiser there.

As far as part of my OP question goes, I called UIA who say they dont care about the adjoining house's past underpinning problems, only the one to be insured.

Will try some others to get a consensus.

Edit: Bit reluctant to get another survey because of the cost and holding things up more than they have been.

BitterAndTwisted

Have you considered having a friendly chat with the underpinned neighbours?

paul1964_2

ruggedtoast wrote: »

Problem, not a problem? I'm predominantly talking about insurance and resale.......

Thinking about future resale, I guess that you are not the only prospective purchaser that would be concerned by the possibility of subsidence in the area that is raised by the searches.

I used to live in an old mining area and when buying was extremely sensitive to any indication of subsidence. To be honest, if I had received the search results that you have, I would not buy the house.

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with the house, just that when you try and resell, people like me (risk-averse cowards) will not form part of your potential market.

G_M

Insurance companies always ask you something like " Has the property ever suffered from or is there any evidence of subsidence.......". or "Has not been affected by subsidence or structural movement and is not in an area subject to subsidence. "

So a lot depends on the exact wording on your report. It's all very well you thinking, "well I can't see any so I'll answer 'No'." but if you come to make a claim you don't want the insurance company dredging up the survey and saying "You should have answered 'Yes' so we are invalidating your insurance."

ruggedtoast

There is nothing on the survey about subsidence, the survey said the house was fine.

I've told the insurance company about the house next door being underpinned and they say they're only concerned by the insured property. I will try some more to get a consensus though.

The street isnt prone to subsidence.

The question about resale is occupying my mind at the moment. Its a pretty high demand area so I think its ok. Houses in this street dont come up often and when they do theyre STC pretty quickly.

We arent planning on moving for a long time.

ruggedtoast

Direct Line and Halifax wont even give a quote...
Morethan and UIA will.

Hmm.