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Attic Firewall - Where do I stand?
AnonRon
Posts: 5 Forumite
Hi all.
Me and my partner purchased our house in January this year. We had the most basic of valuation report/survey. It detailed how a chimney breast had been removed and a retaining wall had too (seller provided us several pictures of work done).
A couple of weeks ago I stuck my head into the attic for the first time. To my amazement there was no wall between us an next door. The property is an old stone Semi Detached house.
We quickly phoned the solicitor, who instructed us to contact the surveyor. We phoned the bank with whom we had the mortgage and the sent a letter of complaint to the company who conducted the survey.
We recieved a response today basically saying tough. That it was in effect a mortgage valuation and not an extensive survey. Fair enough. I'll take that on the chin.
However. Is there any legislation that could help us. Along the lines of any survey (mortgage report or survey) requires the need to establish whether or not there is a wall between two properties given the fire risk involved?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Me and my partner purchased our house in January this year. We had the most basic of valuation report/survey. It detailed how a chimney breast had been removed and a retaining wall had too (seller provided us several pictures of work done).
A couple of weeks ago I stuck my head into the attic for the first time. To my amazement there was no wall between us an next door. The property is an old stone Semi Detached house.
We quickly phoned the solicitor, who instructed us to contact the surveyor. We phoned the bank with whom we had the mortgage and the sent a letter of complaint to the company who conducted the survey.
We recieved a response today basically saying tough. That it was in effect a mortgage valuation and not an extensive survey. Fair enough. I'll take that on the chin.
However. Is there any legislation that could help us. Along the lines of any survey (mortgage report or survey) requires the need to establish whether or not there is a wall between two properties given the fire risk involved?
Any help would be much appreciated.
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Comments
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No....
However. Is there any legislation that could help us. Along the lines of any survey (mortgage report or survey) requires the need to establish whether or not there is a wall between two properties given the fire risk involved?
This is very common in certain areas with a certain type and age of property.
I've no ide why you think a lender's valuation would or should have revealed this, or why you might have any come-back. If you wanted a detailed description of the structure of the property you should have paid for a proper survey.
Yes there is a fire (and security?) risk and it would contravene today's Building Regulations, but doubtles not at the time the property was built.
If you want to remedy the situation, invite your neighbours to tea, bake them a nice cake, and discuss getting a fire resistant wall constructed - it won't cost a lost.
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I wouldn't expect a valuation report to even include looking in the attic, and you've got no right to complain about how your lender carried out their valuation anyway. It's for their benefit, not yours.
Lack of a firewall is hardly unusual for older properties - nice to have one, but I wouldn't get overly concerned about it.0 -
did you check anything yourself?An answer isn't spam just because you don't like it......0
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No worries. Cheers both. Money was incredibly tight at the time, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
In fairness theres a very I'll old lady living next door so our only hope will be once she passes and the house is sold the buyer decides to spend the money we didn't and we will willingly go half each.
Cheers for the quick responses.0 -
Well at least she's unlikely to creep up through the attic and down into your house in the night! On the other hand, she might leave the gas cooker switched on......... :eek:No worries. Cheers both. Money was incredibly tight at the time, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
In fairness theres a very I'll old lady living next door so our only hope will be once she passes and the house is sold the buyer decides to spend the money we didn't and we will willingly go half each.0 -
That was my thoughts. Older people can be a little forgetful.
I think I would be footing the bill and getting the firewall put in myself. With the neighbours consent of course.0 -
Don't overlook the cake!RelievedSheff wrote: »I think I would be footing the bill and getting the firewall put in myself. With the neighbours consent of course.0 -
What happens if they are not that bothered about having the wall put in?our only hope will be once she passes and the house is sold the buyer decides to spend the money we didn't and we will willingly go half each.I am a Mortgage AdviserYou should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.0 -
Lol, I had an incomplete firewall partition (concrete blocks) in an attic. Police called next door to arrest someone, I had an unexpected visitor.
It was completely blocked up shortly thereafter.0 -
One day you'll come home from work, let yourself into your house and discover a parcel on the kitchen table.
The little old lady's grandson was visiting when the postman asked her to take in a parcel for you - and the grandson didn't want you "bothering" his granny by ringing her bell.... so will have kindly delivered it for you
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