Council home and possible subsidence. Rights

kellemeek

Could anyone advise or point me in the direction of where I might find some help regarding subsidence and the council taking it seriously? The cracks started to appear roughly 3 weeks ago and have become wider and more are appearing daily. I am concerned at the rate this is happening. Someone from the council came and said it may be a problem with the drains. He didn't really seem at all bothered by it if I am honest. There are cracks outside the property, the roof corner is hanging off in parts and cracks are appearing in the bathroom below the bedroom and half of the tiles have fallen off. I have attached two pictures. This is the main crack.













Do you think I am right to be highly concerned about the safety of me and my family? I really don't know what to do. The man from the council said it would be a few weeks before they could get someone out to look down the drains with a camera? As I say, I am really concerned at how fast this is happening and completely scared if I am honest. Any advice would benefit me greatly. Thank you, Kelly.:o

elsien

Can't see a picture.
Have you contacted your local councillor?

kellemeek

I've fixed it now (i think)

Doozergirl

https://ibb.co/n1N2Yo

https://ibb.co/bDNQm8

https://ibb.co/n5fmR8

https://ibb.co/kUSpeT

https://ibb.co/iWnuDo

https://ibb.co/bxncYo


That's all appeared in three weeks?!

I don't think you need to be worried about your immediate safety, but it clearly needs addressing! Subsidence doesn't undermine everything straight away, it's a progressive thing and probably has something to do with the dry weather conditions. It could start undoing itself and closing back up with rain.

If you could post a pic of the whole section of your house and not just the cracks, it's more helpful. You're looking for trees, where the drains leave your house , areas of green grass where it might otherwise be dry. The general direction of the cracks often lead to the culprit.

kellemeek

Yup, thats my main concern. The speed at which this is happening. I can literally go to bed and new ones will appear the next day. I thought environmental health might be worth a try, but it appears they don't help with this I think.

PasturesNew

Just to clarify - is this a council house that you rent?

kellemeek

Yes, its rented.

sevenhills

kellemeek wrote: »

Yup, thats my main concern. The speed at which this is happening. I can literally go to bed and new ones will appear the next day. I thought environmental health might be worth a try, but it appears they don't help with this I think.

The crack on the outside of the house looks like the area has been filled and painted previously.

kellemeek

Yes, that was there before we moved in. We've been here a year. There is also another crack similar that has been filled. It also looks like bricks has been scraped back and had holes filled with something? Ill get pics.

macman

3 weeks ago, so almost certainly related to the recent hot weather causing shrinkage?

kellemeek

Yes, thats definitely a possibility. I do know from asking local residents that the homes further up the street where demolished in 1993 due to subsidence. I'm also pretty sure there was a house attached to the other side of mine at some point in the 70s.