Buying a house with insurance claim 40 yrs ago

AdrianC

TBorg said:

He claims it was voluntarily done, lot of houses on the street did the same at that time.

Because everybody wakes up one morning, opens the curtains, and says "Oooh, look, Doris. Next door are digging bloody great big holes under their foundations and filling them with concrete, just in case something might happen... Perhaps we should, too?"

TBorg

AdrianC said:

TBorg said:

He claims it was voluntarily done, lot of houses on the street did the same at that time.

Because everybody wakes up one morning, opens the curtains, and says "Oooh, look, Doris. Next door are digging bloody great big holes under their foundations and filling them with concrete, just in case something might happen... Perhaps we should, too?"

Exactly my thoughts. And why would insurance cover "voluntary" underpinning? Unless there was some regulatory change in 1980s.
He doesn't have documents from that time. 

Is there anything that can be done to convince us to go ahead? Or is it time to walk away? 

GDB2222

The garage is separate from the house? If so, it’s usually cheaper to knock it down and rebuild it properly than underpin it.

TBorg

GDB2222 said:

The garage is separate from the house? If so, it’s usually cheaper to knock it down and rebuild it properly than underpin it.

No, it is not separate. It was extended 10 years after claim. And they also has a bathroom made on top of it (on first floor).

Justonemorecupoftea

Who currently insures the property? They should be willing to continue insuring it.

We have had subsidence. It didn't need underpinning, but our buyers have had no issue finding insurance. And if they did our current insurers (who we made the claim under) are happy to continue the policy.

Our claim was 2 years ago, so 40 should hopefully not be an issue!

TBorg

Justonemorecupoftea said:

Who currently insures the property? They should be willing to continue insuring it.

We have had subsidence. It didn't need underpinning, but our buyers have had no issue finding insurance. And if they did our current insurers (who we made the claim under) are happy to continue the policy.

Our claim was 2 years ago, so 40 should hopefully not be an issue!

Thats comforting to know. Can I ask if your insurer bumped up the premium after you made a claim?

TBorg

We have just received surveyor's report. He thinks the movement is not ongoing but says that a survey by structural engineer is needed to fully confirm that. Any suggestions for me please?

AdrianC

TBorg said:

We have just received surveyor's report. He thinks the movement is not ongoing but says that a survey by structural engineer is needed to fully confirm that. Any suggestions for me please?

Get a structural engineer in...?

amanda_p

You will not need specialist insurers,  there may be a slightly higher excess, think ours is about £1000. For the first 5 years after we had a subsidence claim we stayed with the original insurer just for peace of mind but since then have shopped around. Our premium for a 4 bedroomed large detached house on 1/4 acre plot  surrounded by mature trees is £320 per annum.

I would have a word with a structural engineer before having a full survey done. As it is over 40 years old there is no way he can tell you  100% whether there will be further movement. A good indication is to look at the outside of the house, if there are no zig zag cracks on the brickwork externally it is unlikely that there  has been any signifiant movement.
Your vendors should also be able to produce a certificate showing that the problem was dealt with and signed off 40 years ago..