Old chimney

zoemk12

Hello
another day, more questions. We’re starting think moving is a bad idea! 

In our home which was built in 1904 we have a lounge and a dinning room. In the dinning room the chimney breast has been removed, not by us or previous owners so at least 20 years ago. However it’s still in place in the room above & in loft. Our buyers have queried this and want to come back with parents to inspect, ( I have no idea of parents are ‘qualified’ to inspect). Anyway, we just want to move on from this so what can we do? The house is unlikely to fall down anytime soon but they will be looking for assurances. 

Thanks 

hazyjo

Their solicitor will prob just ask for an utterly pointless indemnity policy. Or they can pay for a structural engineer to come and check it out.

AdrianC

There is one heck of a lot of weight up there, with the support that was designed to bear it removed.

It's entirely possible that when the support (the chimney breast) was removed, the weight was supported by additional measures. But you (I presume) have no paperwork to show that. And I presume you won't want to start removing carpets, floorboards, plaster to see if it was added or not...?

So it's down to the vendors to make themselves comfortable as to whether it's properly supported. An indemnity policy won't do that, beyond giving them a useless hug. A structural survey can take educated guesses, without chopping the house about, but no more.

What did your survey say when you bought?

zoemk12

AdrianC said:

There is one heck of a lot of weight up there, with the support that was designed to bear it removed.

It's entirely possible that when the support (the chimney breast) was removed, the weight was supported by additional measures. But you (I presume) have no paperwork to show that. And I presume you won't want to start removing carpets, floorboards, plaster to see if it was added or not...?

So it's down to the vendors to make themselves comfortable as to whether it's properly supported. An indemnity policy won't do that, beyond giving them a useless hug. A structural survey can take educated guesses, without chopping the house about, but no more.

What did your survey say when you bought?

My partner purchased the house 12 years ago and didn’t have a survey!