Buying houses with structural issues.

MamBear

Hello MSE forum

We have found an amazing house, but right at the end of the viewing my husband saw a structural issue and has now been put off. The house was built around 1900. It is a mid terrace and the walls have bulged outwards where the terraces meet at a point. It has been repaired by strapping but the straps are huge and we are worried this will a) put future buyers off and b) stop us from doing a downstairs extension to the kitchen. This is before we even consider whether we'd actually get a mortgage on the place!. We have a 50% deposit but is the structure just too scary to risk buying?.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Rachel

Tom99

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I don't think anyone can give you a black and white answer to that.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Its bound to put some people off, but that works in your favour as maybe you can negotiate on price.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]You might consider a structural engineers report as to the current state of the property and your plans for an extension.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I don't think a RICS Building Survey is going to help you much with this specific concern.[/FONT]

dunstonh

The house was built around 1900. It is a mid terrace and the walls have bulged outwards where the terraces meet at a point. It has been repaired by strapping but the straps are huge and we are worried this will a) put future buyers off and b) stop us from doing a downstairs extension to the kitchen.

Buying a house that old with historic movement issues would suggest that you should employ a structural engineer. You may even get your vendor to pay for it (we did on ours).

AdrianC

You have two sane choices.
1. Walk away now.
2. Get a proper full structural engineering report.

Pick one.

Option 3 is also available.
3. What the heck, just buy it.

Puflet

I bought a house with structural issues; my vendors actually paid for the structural engineer's report and did the work before I could get a mortgage on it. The report basically stated that the degree of movement would be unacceptable in a modern property, but that the place had been standing for 150+ years and hadn't fallen down yet.

However... the structural problems - caused by roof spread - didn't go away, even though I'd got my mortgage successfully. It's cost me thousands over the years, and a whole load of hassle and heartache. I wouldn't do it again!

G_M

Very often remedial measures like this are fine and stand the test of time,but as others have said you need professionalreassurance before commiting.

Not a Homebuyer's survey (though you may want that too) by a RICS surveyor, but a report by a Structural Engineer.


Whoever pays for the SE, make sure you choose him, you instruct him, and the report is in your name, not the seller.


Consider insurance too........