Noooo...property we are buying is of non-standard construction....

Better_Days

Thought we were buying a 1960's bungalow. Met with the surveyor this afternoon at the property who told me that is what he thought it was when he drove up. But looking round it appears to be rendered brick with plasterboard on the inside and no cavity. The lack of depth in the window recesses was easy to see when he pointed it out to me.

He will advise of the revised valuation, but it will be substantially less. We have been looking for months and this bungalow is in a lovely spot with a fantastic garden. So disappointed :( Will have to decide whether or not to proceed and renegotiate on price (if the vendor will).

My only consolation is that the survey cost is probably the best £400 I have ever spent.

ValHaller

Better_Days wrote: »

My only consolation is that the survey cost is probably the best £400 I have ever spent.

These words should be framed for the benefit of posters who want to shortcut on searches and surveys.

phoebe1989seb

Sorry to hear that BD Far better to find out before you've got too far into the process though - although I know you had your heart set on that garden.......

Fingers crossed it all works out for you

Dan-Dan

sorry to hear that Better Days!

Southend1

I must be missing something here! How is that non standard? Every house in a 2 mile radius of mine has solid brick walls and many are rendered. Unless you mean the walls are one brick thick only?

retepetsir

Southend1 wrote: »

I must be missing something here! How is that non standard? Every house in a 2 mile radius of mine has solid brick walls and many are rendered. Unless you mean the walls are one brick thick only?

That's what it sounds like

Southend1

If that's what it is it would be hard to spot unless you were looking out for it. Good thing OP paid for a survey!

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Ask the surveyor what kind of non standard construction it is

Werdnal

OP, are you buying with a mortgage? You may be able to renegotiate the price, but will your lender still mortgage it? Many can be funny about NSC.

Better_Days

Thanks everyone, as phoebe1989seb says I do love the garden but this issue was totally unexpected. The surveyor was excellent. A local chap. He knew we were going to the bungalow to get quotes for works, and waited until we got there to discuss it with us. Walked me round the property and pointed out the things he noticed. Much better than getting it in a report in the post.

For those who queried the construction - I'm pretty sure he said rendered single brick with plasterboard on the inside. I was so surprised though that I didn't take it all in. Will check tomorrow. He definately said it was non standard though.

Werdnal - the mortgage is a good point. We are buying, but with a small mortgage. If we decide to go ahead, and get a reduction in price we may not need the mortgage. But - of course we will need to take into account the position when we come to sell - if the property isn't mortgagble it will be much more difficult to sell.

I will look into the cost of regularising the construction but I suspect it will be prohibitively expensive. Just insulating the walls internally will cost between £6k and £10k according to the EST website.

Well, June 25 2013 is the day I spent £400 but saved in the region of £50,000. A day to remember that's for sure.

Southend1

If it's solid brick 2 bricks thick with no insulation then it's definitely standard construction, this is how most houses were built until the 1930s. If it's one brick thick it sounds like a non standard. Definitely worth asking the surveyor for more info.