Buy a house with structural movement - what do I need to consider

Tom99

Since any movement caused by a drain or tree is to the foundations I can't see how you will avoid calling it subsidence?
Its true that many subsidence claims do not involve underpinning, you can fix the drain chop down or reduce the tree and then repair the structure, for example with steel reinforcing bars inserted into the brickwork joints.

foxy-stoat

Look for another house - it seems like your buying trouble.

Moneysaving222

Tom et al educate yourself on what subsidence

foxy-stoat

Moneysaving222 wrote: »

Tom et al educate yourself on what subsidence

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Doozergirl

Moneysaving222 wrote: »

Hi Doozergirl. I was hoping someone like you would reply. It’s not subsidence as it doesn’t fit the FOS definition and structural engineer said so.

The survey for me and mortgage company said structural movement. There are big cracks that the landlord didn’t know about. I can’t get her to verbalize what she is going to do about the problem.

Just to be clear I don’t need to declare the structural movement as it’s not subsidence? I’m just worried as I’ve called the insurers and they’ve been positive it’s substance etc. I’ve not given the address or my name to the insurance company.

I don’t think it needs underpinning - based on what the structural engineer said. However the full report hasn’t been done as the vendor wants me to pay for it. I told them no.

If the vendor fixes the problem (most likely drains or a tree) and the structural engineer signs of the property, will everything be ok?

I am quite sure that the insurers will take any sign of movement as subsidence, regardless of cause, because they are in the business of insuring risk. If you mention risk, they'll start to insure themselves against it.

I'm just tempering that with the fact that all houses move because the ground always moves. Some movement has to be expected and appreciated for what it is. Insurers have to accept that as normal, but if you speak to someone on the phone, they won't. They will take the worst case scenario.

I had a bizarre conversation with a car insurer recently because they couldn't get their head around the fact that my son was sitting his A-Levels and would be starting his job around renewal time and basically started accusing me of lying when I asked for the renewal quote with a job title instead of student. I didn't even ask them for the quote, I was trying to cancel!

If the problem is serious enough that an insurance claim is warranted, then it's going to stand against the house in the same way that subsidence (in the true sense) would, and affect premiums and affect people's view of the house, rightly or wrongly. You should consider reducing your offer to account for that.

The question is really whether the damage is small enough to be considered 'normal' and avoid the insurer altogether. With large cracks, it doesn't sound like it is, but I can't see and you have no report yet, so we have no answer.

Moneysaving222

The structural engineer who has visited the property says the cracks isn’t subsidence.

Tom99

Moneysaving222 wrote: »

Tom et al educate yourself on what subsidence

I look forward to hearing how a leaky drain or tree has caused structural moment if not through the foundations.

Doozergirl

Moneysaving222 wrote: »

The structural engineer who has visited the property says the cracks isn’t subsidence.

It's not him you have to convince.

Strictly speaking, even according to your definition, 'downward movement of the site in which a building stands' is occurring.

It's fixable, it doesn't have to be ongoing, which is why I'd be more relaxed about it, but I don't think insurers will agree when they have to pay to fix it.

Moneysaving222

Hi doozergirl. The vendor will have to get the property fixed and her engineer will sign if the property and I will get my own one to right a report to the mortgage company. I will provide that report to the insurance company to get insurance. Does that sound right?

Doozergirl

I'd sort the work out myself, personally. Your vendor is denying it exists!

I guess it depends on whether the mortgage company will allow you purchase without it being fixed. That is probably the key to whether it should confirmed as subsidence for insurance companies and future buyers.