Seller lied to my face but i've finally found what I suspected

Chanes

Seriously, it really reads like you want this house enough to make an effort. Underpinning works, certified and complete would be enough to calm me down especially if the source was a leaking drain that had been repaired. Removing a tree can cause more trouble than it is worth, we had a house with trees close to it and they were not raised as an issue when we sold (I think they are a worry to older houses with shallow foundations)

You should be decisive about this: forget it and walk away, thank folks for their input in the thread and start your hunt afresh.

Or buy it and deal with it as a fait accompli kind of thing. It could be your forever home.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

shaunhouse

If the claims aren't listed as subsidence and he isn't paying some daft premium then once I've seen reports of the works and certificates I will be OK with the purchase.

The comments are forgetting so far I haven't seen any reports for actual repairs. All I've seen is the two insurance investigations.

The house hadn't been underpinned. There are signs of cracks since the repairs have happened so as far as I know right now this could be on-going.

Hoploz

I don't think the comments are forgetting anything. You've been advised to get more info before proceeding. Can't really suggest much else. It's been a long frustrating weekend for you but in the morning you'll get back on to your solicitor asking for the further info re repairs from the seller. If this isn't forthcoming then the seller will need to know without it you're too nervous to proceed and hopefully this will chivvy them up.

Ozzuk

You seem to be focusing on past issues, whilst relevant aren't really the main problem. You've said there is still a tree that is too close, so it doesn't matter what has been done as this is still an issue that could get worse (unless they've somehow shielded the tree roots completely).

Maybe get another survey done, I'd want to know if it's possible to remove the offending tree - which could make things worse as the roots die, or how likely it is that the problem will get worse. You could be facing a really big bill to remove tree and potentially underpin house.

shaunhouse

Ozzuk wrote: »

You seem to be focusing on past issues, whilst relevant aren't really the main problem. You've said there is still a tree that is too close, so it doesn't matter what has been done as this is still an issue that could get worse (unless they've somehow shielded the tree roots completely).

Maybe get another survey done, I'd want to know if it's possible to remove the offending tree - which could make things worse as the roots die, or how likely it is that the problem will get worse. You could be facing a really big bill to remove tree and potentially underpin house.

Agreed, I've been told the tree just needs managing and it should be fine. I will definatly be getting another opinion once I have the reports perhaps find a surveyor who will look at the reports and take a look at simply that issue alone when visiting the house.

Crashy_Time

glasgowdan wrote: »

Point was he held a senior rank and therefore has some savvy and political awareness about him.

So couldn`t make it as an EA then? :rotfl:

shaunhouse

The seller has produced a hand written note playing down the claims today with details of the insurance claims and said he doesn't have documents from 5 years ago. My solicitor thinks he is withholding information.

cooltt

shaunhouse wrote: »

The seller has produced a hand written note playing down the claims today with details of the insurance claims and said he doesn't have documents from 5 years ago. My solicitor thinks he is withholding information.

Listen Shaun, forget all the mothers meeting nonsense going on here.

The estate agent has lied to you, the home owner has lied to you, your gut instinct is screaming at the top of it's lungs to you.

DON'T BE A FOOL. WALK THE F*** AWAY!

alumende27

He may simply not realise the severity of what he held back.

When I bought my current place (MSE forums passim), we discovered drainage and subsidence issues that the owners neglected to mention. The issues actually predated their purchase of the property (I saw a copy of their 1995 survey) but were obviously not serious enough for them to get fixed or worry the bank, etc.,. Fast forward 20 years and a few cracks here and there cause everyone to panic. They, wrongly or rightly, assumed that because it wasn't an issue when they moved in it wasn't an issue for us. The bank and the insurance companies took a different view in 2015 than they did years previously.

The subsidence issue was easily resolved and I am not bothered (nor is the insurance company, other than an increased premium) about future movement to the property and understand that, for a while at least, it's going make some future buyers fret and worry. Doesn't bother me, I have my dream house and got it at a discount.

As for drains. Well we also had root damage. Cost £1K to get the dodgy section of drains replaced with modern plastic piping.

If you're still tempted to buy, don't bother with a full survey, get a structural engineer to investigate and report. A RICS building survey will be as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike as far as banks and insurance companies (and your peace of mind) go when it comes to structural issues.

As for the above comment, don't homeonwners and estate agents always lie? That's why you get surveys, reports and so on yourself.

At the very least, the existing insurer will need to continue to insure the property, have you asked what the annual premium is? Ask for a copy of the most recent documents to see what the cost is and what the excesses and endorsements may be.

marksoton

Jesus Christ. I actually can't be bothered..