Surveyor recommends disruptive structural report which vendor won't entertain.

LittleMissAspie

Blinkblink wrote: »

Structural issues are recent loft conversion 'may' be cause of cracking in wall above a longstanding opening (no building regs) in rear wall.Structural engineer would want to expose ends of ground floor beam and possibly foundations too.

Forget it. Find another house.

geoffky

Blinkblink wrote: »

Wow, I wasn't expecting such a huge response!
A sincere "thank you" to all who took the time to respond!

I appreciate that the most sensible course of action is probably to walk away.

However, we really need to move and, on reflection, I am tempted to go back to the house with a Structural Engineer simply to discuss the issues. i.e. without removing plaster/digging holes etc.

If he/she can assure me there's probably nothing to worry about I may be tempted to proceed. My concern then would be that when I come to sell on again could I be stuck with an unmortgageable property. (I am fortunate enough to be able to borrow sufficient funds from family members etc., without the need for a mortgage.) Is this likely to be the outcome?

The selling agent tells me not as they have even sold properties with active subsidence to people taking out mortgages. (Not sure if I believe this either!!)

Again, any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Can you not see what people are telling you?
You are playing russian roulette unless you get someone to have a real good look...Your money,Your choice.
If it was me i would of walked the minute the cowboy told me it was a gamble..

Blinkblink

rpc wrote: »

And taking out the old conversion, repairing the damage it has done to the rest of the house and then redoing the loft conversion properly costs more than just doing it right in the first place.

Without knowing the extent of the problems and damage, OP needs to take the view that putting it right is an almost unbounded cost. Expert assessment (such as the vendors are rejecting) will reduce the uncertainty.

What is any mortgage company going to say when presented with a report stating there is a loft conversion with no building regs that may be damaging the structure of the building? They will either refuse to lend, massively downvalue the house or take a huge retention.

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. There is a completion certificate for the loft conversion. However, none for the large opening in the rear wall (ground floor) below which provides access to a small extension.

Better_Days

Blinkblink wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. There is a completion certificate for the loft conversion. However, none for the large opening in the rear wall (ground floor) below which provides access to a small extension.

I would certainly want to make sure this was safe. Presumably the opening is in a load bearing wall.

Mayflower10cat

Complete shot in the dark - the 'large opening' in the rear wall, could it possibly have been where patio/french doors were removed to allow access to the extension? Establishing if there's a steel in place wouldn't be too difficult, Ok some mess will be made, but it shouldn't be difficult to determine. How old is the property? The fact that the vendor is being so unreasonably awkward would make me want to walk away, in today's market s/he can't afford to make the transaction tough on the buyer. And surely every single potential buyer will discover the same issues...?

mrginge

Blinkblink wrote: »

Wow, I wasn't expecting such a huge response!
A sincere "thank you" to all who took the time to respond!

I appreciate that the most sensible course of action is probably to walk away.

However, we really need to move and, on reflection, I am tempted to go back to the house with a Structural Engineer simply to discuss the issues. i.e. without removing plaster/digging holes etc.

If he/she can assure me there's probably nothing to worry about I may be tempted to proceed. My concern then would be that when I come to sell on again could I be stuck with an unmortgageable property. (I am fortunate enough to be able to borrow sufficient funds from family members etc., without the need for a mortgage.) Is this likely to be the outcome?

The selling agent tells me not as they have even sold properties with active subsidence to people taking out mortgages. (Not sure if I believe this either!!)

Again, any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

What makes you think a structural engineer will tell you everythingis fine without doing a proper investigation?
If they did tell you that, but then there was a problem, would you be sueing said engineer? Course you would.

Your new plan seems to remove responsibility from both the vendor and yourself and place it all on a third party who will not be allowed to make an accurate professional opinion.

You know what the sensible course if action is. So do it.

Ivana_Tinkle

Agree that this needs to be properly investigated. If necessary, tell the agent that your mortgage co are insisting on it so it's out of your hands: either the structural engineer has a proper look or it's not possible for you to buy the house. It might save a bit of time and some infuriating conversations.

If the agent is as annoying and unhelpful as they sound, I'd be inclined to put a note through the vendor's door asking to discuss this in person. It may be that they've got nothing to hide but the agent is telling them not to agree, or that the agent's never even asked them, or that they believe everything's fine and that you're going to mess up their house, or they think you're just angling for a reduction...