Horrible underpinning situation post searches. Advice?

Catblue

I feel for you, what an awful situation.

I think this whole business has already soured the place for you and you couldn't look at the house as your dream house again, irrespective of what happens now. And then if you did have to move at some point, then it would be a worry as to what the next survey/searches comes up with. And you'd have to deal with this whole situation all over again, as the vendors this time.

Bad enough to go through this once as a buyer, but once or twice or more as a vendor as well? It is obvious from the replies on this forum that a lot of buyers upon hearig underpinning next door/difficult to insure thing then they'd run a mile.

Nope. I think there's a better house out there for you.

JimmyTheWig

dizziblonde wrote: »

You don't want this house - you can tell from the tone of your posts that you don't want it really.

While I agree that is the case now, I don't think that was the case at the start of the thread. I think the OP has talked themselves round to walking away. [Which I think is the right decision.]

OP, what does your wife think? Do you need to convince her to walk away from this house? If so, what are her reasons for still wanting it - we may be able to help you.

[P.S., OP, am loving the Drazic quote in your signature!]

Errata

OP - look a it this way. A pair of semis are nothing more than a building designed for two families to live separtate lives in. One half of the building has been underpinned to stop it sliding down the hill, the other half hasn't. Doesn't that tell you something?

geoffky

rugged m8...dont walk away...run as fast as you can...

prosaver

Errata wrote: »

If I've understood the situation correctly, the semi adjacent to yours is further down the hill and has been underpinned. This may indicate that your semi is pushing next door's down the hill and why your ties are smashed.

I know its not intended but that sounds funny
:rotfl:
I would say -offer a really silly offer and walk away, just to p*** him off.... or say to him I heard its sliding down the hill
seriously hes treating you like a mug ...there will still be more bargains on the housing market
walk away ... and treat your lass to a night out, big meal and loads of wine. :beer:

ruggedtoast

Well, I called the EA last night and pulled out. They seemed a bit miffed I wasnt going to try and put a counter offer in. I was a bit stunned that despite calling twice and emailing yesterday asking for any information that might reassure us, or convince us we'd totally misappraised the situation, they failed to give me one phone call back.

Landlady is allowing us to re-sign another 6 months so I guess its back to the drawing board. Will start afresh in the new year.

Gutted but strangely relieved.

charles_b_2

Gutted feeling will pass quickly, relieved feeling (and reduced stress!) will endure and you will re-focus your mind to another house.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, in 3-4 months time, you will realise that you made the best decision not to proceed.

I firmly believe in fate - we thought we'd found the perfect house 18 months ago, but for various reasons it did not happen. When it fell apart, the sense of relief was unexpected, and we realised that we had been stressed out to our eyeballs with it - we're now (fingers crossed) getting close to an exchange date on a different house, with less stress and a good feeling about it.

The 1st house wasn't meant to be. This house seems to be the one

Good luck - you will find what you're looking for, it may just take time. Take some time to do some things for yourselves - short break, treat or something that will make you smile.

Errata

they failed to give me one phone call back.

There's your answer. The pup they were trying to flog you only had three legs. Relax and enjoy your Christmas.

121casa

Hi rugged,
I know exactly how you feel; I'm currently in the same/similar position but possibly worse!!Mine is a Housing Assn.(H.A) prop. It's 20yr old house. I've spent maybe 3-4k on it doing it up but am entitled to a discount of 10k. There are 4 house in a line.I'm on one end 2 in the middle and the last one is allegedly suffering from subsidence according to the tenant for the last 5 yrs. Cracks have appeared in the walls(being wider at the top approx 3-4mm); garden is sinking. Outside there are cracks; sort of step down along the joint but also down the middle of the brick.
Now the H.A. is not is not interested to have a surveyor out as I'm the only one purchasing. Tenant on the other end is also fed up though not as much as I am. H.A. simply said its my problem. When asked about their 3 props; they're not bothered.
So, I had a builder come round to have a look.
First impressions: my next door neighbour (who is 2 doors away from the affected house) has 40-50 ft leylandii/conifer trees (3 of them). Their roots have gone in the direction of the (affected) prop. and taken the moisture, causing the clay to dry/shrink. Another possibility is what kind of soil the prop was built on; meaning did the ground require levelling?
Now, inside I have no signs of anything at all; externally I have the step down crack though not as bad as the affected prop. Although the builder did spot stress fractures straight down the middle of 2 bricks.
According to the builder the only saving grace is the expansion joint between the 2 middle props.(does yours have this?) which is helping although my prop. is still under stress!!
His solution: get rid of the trees immediately as they grow 3ft a yr and one is right next to the drain. Get a full structural survey. I said I had considered a structural engineer; he said a FSS would be better. This is just my 2 pence worth if it helps anybody out there.
I hope you find the right one for you soon. Good luck.:mad: