Buying a concrete (Hawksley) semi

seanyseansean

Hi, i've got a building geek question

My girlfriends parents are house hunting in Gloucester, and have fallen in love with a 3 bed semi. It's ex council but not in a bad area (Brockworth). They're asking for £147k, but the estate agent has 'recommended' we offer £140k or thereabouts.

Trouble is it's a concrete style build. Digging into this it's a Hawksley type and a PRC Certificate was issued 4 years ago to the previous-previous owner. Apparently they spent £30k on the rebuild, so I assume it was a full concrete removal and not just a repair of some sort. I should get a copy of the certificate tomorrow.

The questions are:

1. Is there anything I should look out for on the certificate, or is the mere existence of one good enough?

2. I don't know if next door (the other half of the semi) was done, although the brickwork looks similar. If hypothetically speaking they had not repaired their half of the building, could that affect ours, regardless of whether we have a certificate or not?

3. How much of a discount should we be pushing for with this type of build? Are they really difficult to sell on?

4. I understand buildings insurance will be more expensive, but by how much? I did try to check but can't find a site that will quote me.

Thanks very much for your input!

Sean

Running_Horse

I have no real knowledge of concrete houses, other than it would make me proceed very carefully.

If the vendor's estate agent is recommending you offer a certain amount, I would offer a lot less.

He is working for, and paid by them, not you.

PasturesNew

If next door looks the same, that's not been done.
Cost tends to be about £20k.
What happens is scaffolding's put round the house and the roof's carefully lifted by about 4" and they remove all the panelling and replace it with full/proper bricks.

Need to find out if, structurally, any metal beams go across ... including across next door's. If, structurally, the house and next door are "joined" it might cost more, or prove impossible to rectify.

They tend to be either unmortgageable, or hard to mortgage. Once done in brick they're a "proper house" and the value rises accordingly.

lynsco

I beg to differ, I bought a 3 bed ex council concrete house last year, no problems mortgaging with santander or insuring with direct line, its not an ideal construction however people who have never bought or lived in 1 tend to always be very negative about them. However I can find no info on hawksley type houses, is it made with concrete blocks? If so I understood that concrete was not removed but bricks built around it to strengthen it. I live in a poured concrete house which is different. Feel free to shoot me down if I am wrong

icmelerlovers

i live in hawksley house in swindon, and in the process of buying it under right to buy,
i have had a quote from builder who says he has done many of this sort .
he explain he takes down all the outter walls going back to metal frame. he might have to extend footings allowing for for new block and brick walls to be built , fits new windows and doors,
he arranges inspector to visit as work progresses
he serves party wall notice to my neighbour of the works being done.
he informs me no planning permission needed as its classed as cladding works ????
work takes approx 5 weeks , with 3 staged payments
on last payment issuses me with certificate for works done.

does this sound right as i have never done anything like this
look forward to your responses

Richard_Webster

I think part of the problem is the lenders seem to differ as to the kinds of repair certificates they will accept - so you may get a mortgage with one certificate and then when you come to sell your buyer's lender won't accept it.

knightstyle

icmelerlovers, If this builder claims to have done many ask to see several whilst the owners are there and talk to them. Never employ a builder who has the gift of the blag but won't let you see any previous clients.