Subsidence...to survey or not?

manlovestreet

 Viewed a house in Feb 2021, looked ok, offer accepted. House is built in 1900, terraced house in West Midlands. Upon contract pack sent to my solicitors, my solicitors informed me there was some subsidence to the front elevation (no mention by the estate agent). The seller claimed through the home insurance and they installed augered pile installation (metal rods into the front foundations) with a building certificate issued. My solicitors is chasing for more paper work in this regards (what is the actual cause of this subsidence).

I applied for a mortgage and the valuation company physically went to the house to value it. It was valued £2k more than my accepted price, no conditions attached and no mention of subsidence. They have offered me the full mortgage I asked for (75% LTV).

I went to view the house again in June 2021 once I became aware of this subsidence (4 months later after initial viewing). I am not an expert in structural surveying but after reading information online there seems to be subsidence present throughout the property such as cracks by the windows externally and internally, skirting board and door frames coming apart from the walls etc. I have asked the seller to provide a structural survey (for my own peace of mind if I was to sell or remortgage in the furture) and they have insisted the onus is on me to do that. Who should pay for this?

I have spent £200 on the valuation and if I pull out it will cost me a significant amount for my solicitors (probably £700+). The normal searches have come back ok, and my solicitors have recommending coal mining report which they are doing. On one of the forms, TA6 property information, the seller has listed subsidence which has been fixed, but for Japanese knotweed listed ‘don’t know’.

My question is should I pay circa £700+ for a structural survey, to find out the property still has subsidence and either pull out or negotiate with the seller (get fixed later under home insurance) or just pull out altogether now?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

https://postimg.cc/gallery/Q8Xhkst

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster

It is up to you to pay for a full survey and you would be crazy not to under these circumstances. If there are visible cracks it sounds like there may be an issue as these should have been repaired. 

If it's an ongoing issue it's up to you to decide what to do based on the information provided. 

jimbog

I would pull out altogether and save yourself the £700.

The outside walls have been rendered which could be suspicious. Do you have a rightmove link you'd like to share?

manlovestreet

jimbog said:

I would pull out altogether and save yourself the £700.

The outside walls have been rendered which could be suspicious. Do you have a rightmove link you'd like to share?

The 2 pictures, second to last show the front of the property. It has been rendered, probably a whiles ago. There is also other pictures which show the rear, again rendered.


Interestingly 4 windows were replaced in 2019 (fensa certificate supplied) and this the the same year the subsidence was fixed. Coincidence?

manlovestreet

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster said:

It is up to you to pay for a full survey and you would be crazy not to under these circumstances. If there are visible cracks it sounds like there may be an issue as these should have been repaired. 

If it's an ongoing issue it's up to you to decide what to do based on the information provided. 

Was thinking is it worth it to pay for a survey or pull out bearing in mind money spent already and issues shown.

Here are some pictures:
https://postimg.cc/gallery/Q8Xhkst

Justonemorecupoftea

When did the subsidence occur? Have they given details on monitoring etc?

If they claimed on insurance they would have redecorated to "make good" and cracks etc. (Our insurance company paid for all of the cracks to be raked and filled and our exterior render to  be repainted) Can you ask to confirm if this was done and when? They may be able to share a schedule of works with you (this will also show the extent of the damage)

This will help any surveyor determine the extent of the movement - e.g. if no redecoration was done (odd) then it's less concerning than if it was completely redecorated less than 12 months ago.

Based on the information provided it's either you pay for a structural survey or walk away. I wouldn't risk it without one.

JJR45

I personally would not touch it.
It's got more movement than my bowels after 10 pints and a curry.

manlovestreet

Justonemorecupoftea said:

When did the subsidence occur? Have they given details on monitoring etc?

If they claimed on insurance they would have redecorated to "make good" and cracks etc. (Our insurance company paid for all of the cracks to be raked and filled and our exterior render to  be repainted) Can you ask to confirm if this was done and when? They may be able to share a schedule of works with you (this will also show the extent of the damage)

This will help any surveyor determine the extent of the movement - e.g. if no redecoration was done (odd) then it's less concerning than if it was completely redecorated less than 12 months ago.

Based on the information provided it's either you pay for a structural survey or walk away. I wouldn't risk it without one.

Thank you for the information you have provided. I not aware of the process so this will help with this line of questioning.

The work to the front elevation was completed June 2019, so i assume the subsidence was a while before this. I have asked my solicitors to get all the information from the seller regarding the subsidence and I am waiting a reply for the full details.

Although it is in my benefit, but I am slightly concerned that the surveyor from the mortgage company didn't pick this up.