Non-traditional build

shardi2209

Hi,
I was just wondering if there is anyway to check if a house is non-traditional build just by looking at it or is there anywhere online that I can look. We have put an offer on a house and it is an ex-council house built in the 1940s, it's in an area of Bristol where there were a lot of pre-fab and prc houses built. Obviously we are going to get a survey done but wanted to know if there is anyway we (as definite non-experts!) could tell if it was made of concrete. We at FTB and we obviously don't want to waste £500+ on survery or go through the whole mortgage application only for them to turn us down as it's non-traditional. It is a lovely house and it is same sort of price as other houses in the area. We are concerned about resale (although not really as we are looking at staying put for 20 years) but mainly repair costs. I'm scared that they were only designed to last 60 years and it's now 70 years later...
Thank you,
P.S. Seller says standard build but EPC says system built.

DTDfanBoy

If you post a link to the property on here it should take no time for us to tell you if it's likely to be of non standard construction.

As you're a newbie you'll have to remove the www

shardi2209

rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39161916.html

Would be great if someone could give me advice. If it is ok please don't steal my house....

LisaLou1982

I'm on my phone so can't see the photos as clearly as on the laptop but I'd say it's concrete construction

LisaLou1982

I also should add that thousands of non standard construction properties have mortgages on them which are granted every day. They are typically found in estates so it's not completely unusual and you should have no issue obtaining a mortgage.

shardi2209

Yeah I'm starting to think that it is concrete build as I've spent the week researching different types used in Bristol. I'm sure concrete is fine but I'm really bothered about the fact that I asked the sender twice (once through purplebricks estate agent and once directly) whether it was standard or non-traditional and they said it was standard but with no cavity wall insulation. It seems stupid that they would lie as it probably means we will pull out which will delay them buying their new home. We are looking at using HSBC as our lender and I don't know if they lend on non-traditional builds.

Davesnave

THe EPC assessor asserts that some of the walls are of non traditional construction, whereas at No 40, which should be close by, they're described as cavity.

If the two houses look more or less the same, it's likely that one of the two assessors is talking out of his backside.

You could try ringing the assessor and ask for his reasoning.

november

I'm pretty sure it's most likely prc. I thought that area rang bells so looked it up (I used to work in housing in Bristol many years ago). You may be interested in these links (although they are now a bit dated):

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Plans-rebuild-Bristol-s-concrete-cancer-homes-scrapped/story-11231174-detail/story.html

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/33792/Vision%20for%20Lockleaze.pdf/3772c9e6-d318-4590-9ee1-4943c0c08a48

I presume most of the houses in the area affected by concrete cancer will have had the work done on them by now but it's worth checking if it was affected and if it had the work done.

No cavity means it is probably still single skin prc so its worth checking if its been repaired to a standard suitable for a mortgage (there should be a certificate - see https://www.reallymoving.com/property-professors/surveying/what-is-a-prc-%28prefabricated-reinforced-concrete%29).

Rain_Shadow

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39161916.html


It is showing as SoldSTC so, unless that is you, you may be too late.

shardi2209

No 40 is the house that it is attached too. So they look the same. I'm pretty sure they'd have to be off the same build if they are joined but I don't know which one is correct. I agree that it looks like concrete build. The various epcs on the road say the houses are a mix of system built and cavity wall. Any ideas on what type of prc it might be?
Thank you for all your help.