Advice needed please: subsidence history and missing lintels

venna

After chatting to our very helpful surveyor it appears the way to go (if we don't immediately run away) is:


- put valuation and structural survey on hold
- ask for all info as detailed by other posts above
- commission structural engineering report on underpinnings, other remedial work etc. (may be required by mortgage provider and maybe insurance company)
- if and only if happy with report from structural engineer go back and get structural survey. If not run away.
- then get valuation and mortgage


Thought this may be a useful 'how to' if others find themselves in this position.


Though we really wanted to buy this house the thought of the difficulty with re-sale is daunting. So may yet run away.

lisa110rry

venna, I'm not sure if this will be of any interest, but I'll tell you this just in case.

Our house was built in 1932 with steel lintels above the two-storey massive brick bays at the front. In 2006, we were having new double-glazed windows. The lower lintel was found to be pierced by several long, large nails and seriously rusted through. The contractor doing the windows showed me this then said "we'll get a new lintel and put it in for you, £25 extra charge". It seems that the only thing holding up one and a half stories of an Accrington brick house facade was the lower window frame. The contractors definitely didn't think it a major thing though.

Cakeguts

Think about a structural engineers report.

venna

Thanks for the advice. A structural engineers report has been commissioned. Also just received an arboroculturalist's report (huge tree in garden) that raises more concerns than is solves. And the vendors seem singularly perplexed as to why we are have any concerns i.e. are unlikely to agree any price drop should work be needed.


I can feel us edging away from this house and feel sorry for the next poor souls who follow in our footsteps.