Surveyor and Subsidence

Keller321

Hi, I just got a building survey done on a property I was to purchase. He has reported that there "may be subsidence on the left front corner of the building and it may be progressive". There appears to be an old crack diagonal crack above a window that was filled in previously, but nothing recent.

Looking through google street view and speaking to the vendor. The house has not had any repairs to the brickwork or further cracks for 10+ years. That crack was something that had been dealt with before the previous vendor bought the house, so they don't know the significance. Indeed their surveyor had not mentioned an issue back then.

The surveyor suggests getting a structural engineer and drains survey (as it runs down the side of the suspected subsidence) to get a better sense of the issue. 

These are all very expensive investigations but is it necessary?
Also, how does it affects buildings insurance. Do I declare there is previous subsidence, given that it is only suspected and no one is sure?

Thanks

stuart45

You don't really know the cause of the original crack yet I guess?

Keller321

stuart45 said:

You don't really know the cause of the original crack yet I guess?

Not really. It may be related to a window that was removed and filled in on that side of the property (i.e. poor workmanship), but otherwise no idea. There isn't a crack visible, but rather may have been an old crack which was repointed.