Mining subsidence claim within 50m of property

chloedancer99

Hi I'm really hoping someone will be able to help. After one property purchase falling through, the searches are back on a second property and the coal mining search shows there was a claim for subsidence within 50m of the one we're hoping to buy. It's the house on the next road - not directly behind but directly behind next door if that makes sense.

We've been advised to by the solicitor to seek the advice of a surveyor with specialist mining knowledge but can anyone please advise me if this is really a huge problem?

Other info we have:
Property is in likely zone of influence from workings in 3 seams of coal at 190m to 350m, last worked in 1944
No known coal mine entries within 20m of the property
The seller has stated he has had know problems getting insurance or paying high premiums.

I've been going round in circles trying to find out more about this but am still none the wiser about how serious this is so any help would be hugely appreciated!

kingstreet

Forward a copy of the report to your surveyor, the surveyor for your mortgage lender (if different) and your chosen insurer. You will then know if anyone has any issues with the property and if your future marketability will be impacted when you want to sell.

chloedancer99

Thanks I'll do that Kingstreet.

Has anyone else experienced this and is it anything to worry about?

Yorkie1

TBH nobody can give you an answer which will help you. Each situation is different and what happened with someone else can't be applied to you.

ruggedtoast

Run Forrest run!

chloedancer99

Ok, fair enough Yorkie1. Thanks, I just thought it was worth a try and gather as much information as I can to help us make a difficult decision.

kingstreet

chloedancer99 wrote: »

Ok, fair enough Yorkie1. Thanks, I just thought it was worth a try and gather as much information as I can to help us make a difficult decision.

You will more than likely make your decision based on the opinion from the surveyors and insurer.

TBH there's no much anyone here can tell you which will help more than what the professionals think in your particular case.

EnigmaPart1

if your moving to a mining area its be expected and really is quite normal and nothing to worried about.

Apart from two collieries there is no more deep mining and everything will have now settled and tunnels collapsed etc

Given the age of the last known workings its really old.

chloedancer99

Thanks Enigma and again Kingstreet. Yes it is a part of Sheffield which is a mining area so I'll do as advised and contact insurers and the bank and if there's no problem with either, go ahead.

EnigmaPart1

chloedancer99 wrote: »

Thanks Enigma and again Kingstreet. Yes it is a part of Sheffield which is a mining area so I'll do as advised and contact insurers and the bank and if there's no problem with either, go ahead.

As someone from South Yorkshire/NE Derbyshire this is perfectly normal and i have never had problems with houses over old coal mines/tunnels

kingstreet

As someone who has worked extensively in the mortgage/property sector in Stoke On Trent and surrounds, any mining activity in proximity to a home to be mortgaged should be closely investigated from the point of view of impact on value, future saleability and insurability.

If it all comes back clear, no problem.

I've seen problem cases where there has been a mineshaft, adit or entry on the property, or within 5 metres and usually anything further away isn't considered too serious.