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Declaring as subsidence?

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NibblyPig
NibblyPig Posts: 230 Forumite
Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
edited 3 November 2020 at 3:58PM in House buying, renting & selling
10 years ago a neighbour's house suffered minor subsidence due to a leaking drain. Both my house and theirs had different owners to present. As a result it pulled on my house. The owner of my house notified their insurance after noticing something was wrong, their insurance contacted neighbours insurance, and a ton of work was done to fix it by the neighbour and their insurance.

The only thing I got from the previous owner was a copy of the certificate of structural adequacy, issued 8 years ago, stating that the house was repaired. It is titled Superstructure Repairs, and states:

We assessed the condition of the building and considered that the superstructure repairs specified and executed were sufficient to reinstate structural integrity. The remedial works generally consisted of the removal of defective render and plaster and insertions of stainless steel stitching bars all as detailed in the schedule of remedial works.

I don't have a copy of the schedule of remedial works, I just have that document. I am wondering if you would declare that if asked if the house suffered from subsidence (or landslip/flood/anything of that ilk).

I had a survey done a while back and the surveyor noticed the stitching and I explained in detail what happened. The buyer pulled out after the survey refusing to negotiate. I have a new buyer now, and I had another survey done today with a different company, and I asked the surveyor if they found anything but they did not mention anything of that nature.

The house is absolutely fine, it was surveyed and found to be fine when I moved in, and the previous survey the surveyor a few weeks ago (after living here 6 years) also stated there was no sign of any movement or problems, nor should there be.

I don't want to lie, or get in trouble, but I don't want to offer more information than I have to. So I am wondering if I get sent that form to fill out with details, if this is something I should put.

Comments

  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,850 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I would state what you actually know to be a fact and for which you have documentation. Anything else is hearsay (what you have been told but have no evidential proof). You have proof of the fact works were done and these works were adjudged to have reinstated the house's structural integrity and briefly what these entailed, but you have no proof of the full schedule of works nor why these were needed.. 
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • I'd check with your solicitor.
  • NibblyPig
    NibblyPig Posts: 230 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks I will ask my solicitor for advice
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 10,973 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Curious as to what you are telling your current buildings insurer if you need to ask this question when selling.
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  • NibblyPig
    NibblyPig Posts: 230 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I explained to my insurer and they didn't care lol, I asked about subsidence, some insurers said if there's no current subsidence there's no problem. Another said it's fine if you have a certificate of structural adequacy. And another said it's fine if it occurred more than 5 years ago and there haven't been issues since then. So no issues at all with insurance.
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