Unable to access loft for survey.

moneyistooshorttomention

Tancred wrote: »

Sounds like an absolute dive - I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

I do have to disagree with this.

Loft access is, I would say, a modern day thing (brought about by the fact that many people have been trying to maximise house space for last few years). So I wouldn't regard it as "dive" at all...more of a vendor got to 60 and then thought "Blow it....I'm just not going to do any more to this house" thing (rather than "Lets neglect it to heck and back" thing).

There IS a time in life when someone simply WONT do anything further to a house (even if its Their Home). I know....because I've got to it. Hence I got to a stage (about 3 years ago I would say) where I simply wont do anything further to current house (ie because its my Starter House) BUT I am prepared to do work/spend money on Next House for about the next 5 years I would say (ie because its House I Thought I Would Have By Now aka "My Home").

After around 65-70 years I would suspect the vast vast majority of people would just "live with" whatever house they are in (even if its Their Home) as they simply wouldn't see the point of putting any more money/time into work on the place BUT that wouldn't mean it was a "dive"...just they simply didn't see the point (ie because they presumably didn't think they would have that much longer in the place).

ic

Lionel_Thinkbag wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. I think cutting a square out of the ceiling wouldn't significantly devalue the house - after all it could easily be tidied up afterwards, but I guess the vendors think differently, or maybe it hasnt occurred to them. I might have a chat with the EA.

"easily tidied up" - given the age of the house, I can assure you this will be far from easy. There'll be over 100 years of dust and soot up there. I'm still tidying my house after pulling down a ceiling five years ago. When I did it I came away looking like I'd been down the mines. Do not underestimate this task - it will be a filthy horrible job. As above, if you go for the house, offer appropriately on the basis you won't see into the loft until you own it. If you're then renovating, you can make whatever mess you wish and install the hatch then.

CLAPTON

spongy floorboards and a leaking roof?


assume the worst that it has dry and wet rot : it might have been leaking for years

moneyistooshorttomention

CLAPTON wrote: »

spongy floorboards and a leaking roof?


assume the worst that it has dry and wet rot : it might have been leaking for years

I do think that is way too cynical a take on things.

Having got to "don't see the point" time of life" as regards spending any more time/money on this current (ie Starter) House....the loft flooring I have up in current loft is absolutely fine (perfect condition) and the roof is absolutely fine (ie recently replaced). State of roof can be gauged from outside (ie stand in street and take a good look at slates and also check out whether the modern-day ventilation thingies are there in place).

Most of yer "ordinary people in the street" simply didn't need (and therefore weren't bothered about) lofts in Time Past. It IS only in Recent Era times (ie where a lot of people are having to try and work with cheaper housing than they thought they would have) that "state of loft" has become an important thing.

Dan-Dan

I do love Tancred`s blunt nature , it`s refreshing

alistairstubbs

In our Victorian house the loft hatch was in a cupbord very tight to access.

Tancred

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I do have to disagree with this.

Loft access is, I would say, a modern day thing (brought about by the fact that many people have been trying to maximise house space for last few years). So I wouldn't regard it as "dive" at all...more of a vendor got to 60 and then thought "Blow it....I'm just not going to do any more to this house" thing (rather than "Lets neglect it to heck and back" thing).

There IS a time in life when someone simply WONT do anything further to a house (even if its Their Home). I know....because I've got to it. Hence I got to a stage (about 3 years ago I would say) where I simply wont do anything further to current house (ie because its my Starter House) BUT I am prepared to do work/spend money on Next House for about the next 5 years I would say (ie because its House I Thought I Would Have By Now aka "My Home").

After around 65-70 years I would suspect the vast vast majority of people would just "live with" whatever house they are in (even if its Their Home) as they simply wouldn't see the point of putting any more money/time into work on the place BUT that wouldn't mean it was a "dive"...just they simply didn't see the point (ie because they presumably didn't think they would have that much longer in the place).

Each to their own. I had the opportunity to buy a 4 bed link detached for £290k that needed full double glazing throughout, quite a bit of brick repointing, several new roof tiles and a new gas pipe. In the end I settled for a new build 3 bed detached for £295k which needs nothing done to it. I can live with the smaller floor space and there is always the option of a conservatory in the future.

DRP

alistairstubbs wrote: »

In our Victorian house the loft hatch was in a cupbord very tight to access.

Yes i have seen this in several hosues we have viewed. It would defo be worth the OP double checking.

ic wrote: »

"easily tidied up" - given the age of the house, I can assure you this will be far from easy. There'll be over 100 years of dust and soot up there. I'm still tidying my house after pulling down a ceiling five years ago. When I did it I came away looking like I'd been down the mines. Do not underestimate this task - it will be a filthy horrible job. As above, if you go for the house, offer appropriately on the basis you won't see into the loft until you own it. If you're then renovating, you can make whatever mess you wish and install the hatch then.

We had a firm come and put in a second loft hatch in our victorian house (in order to put insulation in the bathroom roof). They did the job in less than half a day, it didn't need any replastering and they ran the hoover around and that was that.

Roof hatches can come in kits to easily fit between the joists and the frame covers up any ropey edges...

e.g.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/insulated-drop-down-loft-access-door-white-562-x-726mm/79577

woodyard

The loft access is possibly three or four houses down. I've known terraces where all the lofts are accessible from one of them! The interlinking walls simply have a hole knocked through.

Dimey

Could you get through to the loft from the neighbours house? If they'll let you. Some of these older properties have no walls in loft between houses. If so, you might be able to crawl through.

Also, the surveyor might be able to lift a few roof tiles from the outside to check roof trusses for woodworm, rot etc. Maybe, with the owner's permission, a roofer could remove a few tiles in spots and replace them immediately after the inspection.

Will the surveyor agree to go up to the roof on a ladder. Many home purchase surveyors are wooses and jobsworths. They might insist on scaffolding which the vendor will probably not agree to pay for.

However if you really want the house then maybe you'll accept a roofer reporting what he sees & you take a look too, instead of the surveyor on that one aspect.

Minor wet & dry rot can be treated but if your roof trusses are breached by the rot and/or woodworm but not yet showing from the outside, then the price of a new roof will make a difference to the price you offer.