Victorian house with cellar - poss issues?

nyankochan

Just started house hunting, mostly looking at Edwardian and Victorian terraces. A lot in our price range are either veeeerrry shabby, or nicely done out but too small. Today we looked at a house that was beautifully appointed, good size, good location - we loved it, in fact. But we're worried about the fact that it has a cellar which is not accessible. We gather from the owner that the entrance is blocked up with chicken wire and concrete, and has been that way in all the eight years he's lived there. He's no idea what's down there beyond the wire/concrete "plug".

So, given that it's an older house (late 19th century), should we be wary of not being able to inspect the cellar? One of my stipulations about a house was that it didn't have a cellar, as everyone I know whose house has one seems to have some sort of problem with it, either damp or pest infestations or what-have-you. We could get a specialist survery to break through, but it would involve a lot of hassle and expense. Then again, the price of the house is right for us and it really is a beautiful place.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance:j

jc808

Id be more worried about finding bodies...

Right to be concerned

G_M

Whatever you do, don't unblock it.

They'll climb up......

PasturesNew

Nobody blocks up a cellar, in such a permanent/bizarre way, without a d4mned good reason..... it could be that it's almost permanently flooded. You'd siimply not bother to do it unless there were a problem you wanted to plug and forget.... all that effort, time, money, upheaval..... something's not right.

PasturesNew

G_M wrote: »

Whatever you do, don't unblock it.

They'll climb up......

This is spot on. They will ... and there's no stopping them....

choccyface2006

We are in the process of buying an Edwardian terrace, I'm suddenly glad it doesn't have a cellar!

Sarah

jimbo83

Sounds very strange thats its blocked up.

You will need to make sure its structurally sound too - you dont want the floor to fall in

olly300

Don't know where in the country you are but in cities and large towns cellars are useful storage space so to block it up means the guy is hiding something i.e. the fact the house is structurally unsound, there is a massive rodent problem, the cellar permanently floods with sewage.

I would go and look at another house, and tell the agent to inform the seller that unless he explains what's wrong with the cellar then no-one will be interested.

There is more than one right property for everyone.

TeaCake

Why would you live in a house for eight years and not see whats down in the cellar? :eek:

chris_m

TeaCake wrote: »

Why would you live in a house for eight years and not see whats down in the cellar? :eek:

Because someone's plugged the access with chicken wire and concrete

dimbo61

Its an old house ! So is most of the housing stock in this country.
Did he need the extra room ? whats down there we dont know !
You need to have a full survey done and the whole building checked,
Electrics, plumbing, central heating, windows, walls and roof and the hidden cellar.
My brother lives in a big edwardian house with a cellar and loves the house and the area ( it has a cellar ) spent a fortune on the place but it is one hell of a building.
Me I live in a modern 3 storey property with all mod cons and thin walls, small rooms, small garden.
If you like the place get it chceked out Full survey