Who should pay for council inspection of prior owners "building work"

marksoton

ydrol2 wrote: »

Not attitude, frustration at (some) know alls that revel in others ignorance [not everyone!] But thanks I'm on the right path thanks to useful contributions here.

To be fair he was trying to help.

Anyway, Lewisham borough can be unhelpful in my experience.

And that wooden "lintel" as you've observed probably won't cut it. Get it changed and get it done properly.

Grenage

Regardless of time in place, I'd want a wooden 'lintel' replaced with something more substantial. Something that won't rot and break if you get some unnoticed water ingress.

ydrol2

OK I'll take a chill pill and get on with Surveyor and maybe council too

G_M

Structural Engineer.

NOT a surveyor!

https://www.istructe.org/finding-a-structural-engineer

And don't get a full survey - ring round and get quotes for a report just on that one specific issue.

Forget the council - they can't enforce BRs work after 4 years.

But get an engineer's report for peace of mind so you know if it's safe or not.

Davesnave

G_M wrote: »

Structural Engineer.

NOT a surveyor!

https://www.istructe.org/finding-a-structural-engineer

And don't get a full survey - ring round and get quotes for a report just on that one specific issue.

Forget the council - they can't enforce BRs work after 4 years.

But get an engineer's report for peace of mind so you know if it's safe or not.

It's taken a page to get to this point? No, wait, stator said this too.

Structural engineer will charge for site visit + calcs, so over £500 for sure.

Then there's the work itself.....

Worth it. Eventually, whenever the house is sold, this won't be the issue that stalls everything, and there's the safety aspect in the interim.

kinger101

ydrol2 wrote: »

OK Waiting 10 years before realising is a bit much. What about 5 years, 2 years 1 year.

Unless they lied on a property information form or in response to other queries, you have no comeback 1 nanosecond after exchange of contracts.

Nobbie1967

Davesnave wrote: »

It's taken a page to get to this point? No, wait, stator said this too.

Structural engineer will charge for site visit + calcs, so over £500 for sure.

Then there's the work itself.....

Worth it. Eventually, whenever the house is sold, this won't be the issue that stalls everything, and there's the safety aspect in the interim.

Once you've done this, make sure you keep all the documentation safely as any future buyer is unlikely to just take your word for it.

ydrol2

Thanks all - I did get the original advice - though I wont deny be benefit of hearing the same advice from more than one person when asking online Not that I was fishing for more ! There was a tangent about affording £270 cash and me moaning , but I'm all over Istructe like a rash .. many thanks.

ydrol2

Just called one - he's told me - what I knew deep down and what you guys have said - if its a wooden lintel its not safe - might be cheapest to remove the entire remaining chimney stack - as its a party wall I guess neighbours benefit too (but I wont ask them to chip in )

stator

If it's a party wall you have the part wall act to consider and you might be liable if your works removing the chimney stack cause damage to their property