Cracking in Apartment

Barx

Bought a flat recently and hired a handyman (who builds properties by trade) in to place some items (such as curtain rails, etc.).

The handyman brought his attention to cracks visible near the windows in the bedroom and sitting room, claiming they may show signs of movement and to check this out with the management who are responsible for the leasehold. I asked management responsible for the leasehold (including structure of the building) to check this out and they said they would get a professional in to assess the cracks. Qualified surveyors on behalf of Natwest carried out an assessment of the property prior to me purchasing and felt the property was in a suitable condition for me to be provided with a mortgage. This is contrary to another property I attempted to purchase last year where Natwest refused to provide a mortgage on the flat after documenting signs of structural movement.

If the cracks were to show signs of movement, would our service charge (currently around £80 pcm) rise considerably to accommodate costs to rectify this? Also, if a professional assesses the cracks and claims them to be nothing serious yet it is flagged on surveys of prospective buyers when I eventually try to sell, can I contest this with the management of the building?

Thanks for any responses.

LandyAndy

Barx wrote: »

Bought a flat recently and hired a handyman (who builds properties by trade) in to place some items (such as curtain rails, etc.).

The handyman brought his attention to cracks visible near the windows in the bedroom and sitting room, claiming they may show signs of movement and to check this out with the management who are responsible for the leasehold. I asked management responsible for the leasehold (including structure of the building) to check this out and they said they would get a professional in to assess the cracks. Qualified surveyors on behalf of Natwest carried out an assessment of the property prior to me purchasing and felt the property was in a suitable condition for me to be provided with a mortgage. This is contrary to another property I attempted to purchase last year where Natwest refused to provide a mortgage on the flat after documenting signs of structural movement.

If the cracks were to show signs of movement, would our service charge (currently around £80 pcm) rise considerably to accommodate costs to rectify this? Also, if a professional assesses the cracks and claims them to be nothing serious yet it is flagged on surveys of prospective buyers when I eventually try to sell, can I contest this with the management of the building?

Thanks for any responses.

I'm not sure about the idea of a handyman who has a trade of 'building properties'.


That aside. If the cracks are confirmed as cosmetic then just fill them and make good and a prospective buyer won't know about them. My house had some large cracks in the plaster in several rooms. The surveyor confirmed they were not serious and I just filled them and sanded down. Ten years later they are still not visible

Barx

Thanks for your response Andy. I am hoping they will only be cosmetic cracks and nothing too serious.