crack seems to be right through??

snowmaid

Oh you people are wonderful! This is exactly the type of response I was hoping for. Not that I am wanting you to resolve the issue for me, but just to give an idea of what I am likely to be looking at and whether it is even worth me proceeding to buy the property.

Marybishop suggested getting in an independent chartered surveyor to give a defect analysis? We were thinking of contacting someone tomorrow perhaps. Would this be different from a structual engineer and if so, where do I get one of those!

Further, how can we ensure that insurance companies will insure the house and future problems? I see people talk about the seller taking out indemnity insurance - how does this work? Or, can a building certificate be issued by whoever does the work?

I am so grateful to all of you! You are giving me much needed information!

Tiger_greeneyes

Snowmaid, you'll be able to find a Chartered Surveyor on the RICS website

marybishop

Snowmaid - contact the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) on 0870 333 1600 which is the Contact Centre. Ask for names of Chartered Building Surveyors in your area that carry out defects inspections. Then contact each of them and explain the problem and hopefully they might be able to give a rough idea as to cost. I say 'rough' because some might give you a fixed price while others might give you an hourly rate because obviously until they see the problem they can't be sure how involved they are going to get.

CBS's are different from Structural Engineers but as someone else said this is something they would do as well but I don't know the details of their professional body for you to get contact names/nos - perhaps someone else can help there.

I still think this is something your landlord should be sorting out, not you, and it is quite worrying that he is trying to duck out of his responsibilities. Keep in mind that if you do buy the property this problem will then become yours so it really needs sorting before you buy.

Good luck!

snowmaid

marybishop wrote: »

Snowmaid - contact the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) on 0870 333 1600 which is the Contact Centre. Ask for names of Chartered Building Surveyors in your area that carry out defects inspections. Then contact each of them and explain the problem and hopefully they might be able to give a rough idea as to cost. I say 'rough' because some might give you a fixed price while others might give you an hourly rate because obviously until they see the problem they can't be sure how involved they are going to get.

CBS's are different from Structural Engineers but as someone else said this is something they would do as well but I don't know the details of their professional body for you to get contact names/nos - perhaps someone else can help there.

I still think this is something your landlord should be sorting out, not you, and it is quite worrying that he is trying to duck out of his responsibilities. Keep in mind that if you do buy the property this problem will then become yours so it really needs sorting before you buy.

Good luck!

Thanks! To be fair to the LL, he did bring someone around who is going to give a report. I don't think the LL realised quite how bad this crack really is. He looked a little green around the gills!

What is worrying me, is if he has this repaired, to what standard will this work be done, what do I need to ensure that I this will be insurable and that I will not be held responsible when if I buy the property.

marybishop

snowmaid wrote: »

What is worrying me, is if he has this repaired, to what standard will this work be done, what do I need to ensure that I this will be insurable and that I will not be held responsible when if I buy the property.

I would imagine some sort of guarantee but not really sure on this one but then there are guarantees and guarantees! Could you not speak to an insurance co to see if they can give general advice on this sort of issue?

weeg

You can find an SE via their professional body - the Instition of Structural Engineers. Or type "findanengineer" into the search engine of your choice.

A reputable builder will carry insurance. So, a structural engineer will specify what needs done (and he’ll have PI). A decent builder will follow that spec. If anything goes wrong in future your buildings insurance will be able to pursue those insurers, and so be happy to ensure you. Ie your insurers will be able to pass the cost along to whoever messed up.