Is it dangerous to move to house with structural issues

Doozergirl

£17k?  I doubt the original work cost that!   

Do you have the particulars that you can share with me?  

Edit: You shared the estimate.  Niiiice!   I haven't even seen the house and I can tell you that is rubbish.   I have fees for the foundations and steel frames entire houses that don't come to that.  

This document might be useful for use to you as a negotiating tool with the vendors (although I'd have absolutely hit the roof at the outright audacity of it) but not as a genuine guide for you.  

A party wall surveyor probably isn't even needed, let alone spending £7.5k for a couple
of potential steel bearings.   The chimney breasts have already gone in the relevant rooms!   

HampshireH

Does your ex work for a business or is he self employed?

If s business has he written this with their name all over.

Edit: just seen you did ask him to do it. From the firs post I got the impression he was just sticking his nose in.

hnnguse

@Doozergirl, have dropped you a message. Please let me know if you need more details 

bouicca21

hnnguse said:

FaceHead said:

The report doesn't sound too bad. Wasn't able to get into the loft, and some queries about one wall but doesn't say that there is massive cracking, sagging etc. that would be consistent with something about to fall on your kids heads. 

It seems what he's said is driven by his feelings but the professional-ish report shows that there's actually nothing to worry about (haven't seen the whole thing). 

I have instructed drain test, but no issues raised. So the wall cracks are just normal cracks…

What wall cracks?

hnnguse

@bouicca21, there were minor cracks on the wall outside but nothing serious and they are not subsidence….

Doozergirl

hnnguse said:

@bouicca21, there were minor cracks on the wall outside but nothing serious and they are not subsidence….

Above the rear bedroom window?  They're most likely from the day that the wall was being removed downstairs and the steel put in.   It's a weak point because of the proximity of the windows to the eaves and you have cement render which isn't forgiving at all, so you end up with cracks.  

GDB2222

I keep coming back to the very first reply, saying that you should get an independent structural survey done.  Then, get the surveyor and your ex to argue it out. Or, the surveyor may agree with your ex.

Obviously, there’s some history with your ex, and Doozer is very experienced as a builder and is very reassuring, but I don’t think you should just shrug off the possible issues with the house.

 The fact that there was no Building Control oversight of major works will cause problems for you or your children if you want to sell, in exactly the same way as it is causing problems for your vendors now. There’s a question mark about the structural integrity of the building, because of it.  Plus, there’s cracking.

 I know it’s more expense, but you really need a full structural survey, for good, objective reasons, not just to satisfy your ex.

weeg

That second excerpt is certainly over-egged. The first is definitely erring on the side of caution. And I say that as a Structural Engineer who does home inspections.

If he house was failing, it would be obvious. It's not great having brickwork supported on timber (because timber is much more flexible) but it's not an actual problem if the timber is strong enough.

So, my advice would echo others. Call another SE. Find a small firm that specialises in domestic work. There's a website called findanengineer. Explain the situation to them, how them the report if they ask. Make sure whoever they send out is chartered. They still won't be able to give you a definitive answer without opening up and measuring, but they should be able to give you a report stating that there are no signs of distress within the visible structure, or something to that effect. If your ex still keeps kicking off, I'd be calling the Institution of Structural Engineers and asking how you complain about professional conduct. 

And check for yourself about building control, don't take his word for it.

FreeBear

Doozergirl said: £17k?  I doubt the original work cost that!   

Do you have the particulars that you can share with me?  

Edit: You shared the estimate.  Niiiice!   I haven't even seen the house and I can tell you that is rubbish.   I have fees for the foundations and steel frames entire houses that don't come to that.

Agreed, that estimate is outlandish.. IF remedial work was required, suggesting a PW surveyor twice is misleading and pointless. One would do all the work in one hit, so the design, planning, and SE calculation costs would be minimal (maybe £500 tops). In all probability,  steels have already been inserted in to the party wall, so no need for a party wall agreement or surveyor. Building work wise, the bulk of the work has already been done, so if there is anything to be done, much of it will be cosmetic. Most likely well under £2K.

If an independent structural survey does suggest remedial work done, the one thing I would recommend is getting Building Control involved to sign off the work - This might cost a little more as it would be a retrospective application, but it would shut the ex up and make it easier to sell the property at a later date.

Section62

hnnguse said:

I’m a single mum and in a process to buy a house for my children. Out of my stupidity…I involved my kids father.

Were/are you married?  Did you divorce, and was a financial remedy approved by a court?

It is relevant, and important, because the answers will affect the situation with his own personal financial liability if you go ahead with the purchase of this property.

hnnguse said:

He is a Structural Engineer

Is that a Chartered SE?  I suspect so from the way the report is written, but it is another important detail.