Polysterne bead installstion holding Mortgage back

Forthey

Hi,
We are first time buyers in scotland and after saving up a deposit we have finally found a home that we would like to buy.
Everything was going brilliantly - mortgage agreed in principle, verbal offer accepted and we were about to procced with the formal offer however I noticed the following on the home report and had to stop proceedings:
The precence of externl wall cavity insulation is likely to have an adverse affect on he propertys marketability. The majority of lending instituations would insist upon the removal of the insulation under specialist/consultant direction/supervision as a condition of the loan.
Really gutted as we wanted the house - it has been finished to a very high standard and is in move condition with no work needing done - brandnew kitchen etc. However we would only get the mortgage if we agree to get this instualtion removed and it can cost in the region of £2000 and would need an architec to sign of that no damage had been to the property from this insulation.
Has anyone else had a similar problem? LOADS of houses in our area have had this instaltion and I havent heard of being a problem until now - infact the house we rent has this installation.
I just wondered if any other buyers/sellers have come up against this problem.

stator

What type of construction is it? Cavity Wall Insulation isn't bad for most properties. Is the one you are buying a steel framed or other unusual type?

Forthey

It's an ex council house from prob early 1970s - terraced. I am surprised that it says it timber frame on home report as I would thought steel.
I didn't think it would cause a problem but we can't proceed until it's been sorted out, I feel like it's out of my control which is very frustrating.

jennifernil

If it is timber frame....the cavity between the outside of the timber frame and the inside of the outer brick skin should NEVER be insulated.

In a TF house the insulation is placed within the timber frame.

Filing the cavity could lead to damp reaching the timbers.

Forthey

Thank you very much for your replies.
I guess it's out of my hands. We have left it with the seller - as it stands we can't buy while it's installed. Hopefully it will be investigated and seller will get it removed so that we can then proceed.
It's not suppose to be easy I guess.

stator

Are you sure it's timber framed? Always best to double check if you can. The basic mortgage valuation isn't always done by an expert in identifying house types.

Forthey

No I'm not convinced it is timber frame. Will spk to agency today to ask about having this confirmed. New had another surveyor look at the home report and he was suprised it's timber framed.

stator

Apparently if you're in the loft you can usually see what the walls are made from

molerat

Timber framing is usually pretty obvious from the loft.
The window frames & doors are on the inner timber frame and not the outside wall so they sit back.

Derboy

Contrary to what some others are asking here about timber frame and cavity wall insulation, am I right in assuming that you're talking about externally rendered insulation, which is put on to the existing external facade of a building and then roughcasted over?

If so then timber frame is irrelevant as the insulation is applied to the finished external structure, rather than anything to do with the cavity between brick and timber.

Many councils are applying this to properties as it allows them to increase the energy efficiency of the building without having to do disruptive internal work. I would seek independent advice on this as surely a more thermally efficient house is good a thing?

sheramber

The OP says it is polystyrene beads. These are blown into the cavity.