Cracks identified in survey

chrisuk19 · 22 October 2021 at 5:43PM

Hello,

I've recently had a RICS survey - the surveyor has identified some cracks through the brickwork. At the bottom if you are interested. The property is on a sloped site with trees, so slightly higher risk of potential subsidence.

I've been doing some research and will be getting a structural engineer quote, but still a bit confused about what steps to take next?

I don't think I can get indemnity insurance from the vendors for this?
I read that sometimes the cracks need to be monitored over a period of time to be definitive? What can a structural engineer do in a short period of time?
How would it work with insurance? Would I send the structural engineers report to them or is there another step that needs to be done?
Do I need to speak to the mortgage company?
The vendors are sending a previous structural engineer report that flagged this as low risk, but not sure why they didn't get the bricks repaired.

Many thanks in advance
Chris

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eddddy · 22 October 2021 at 6:27PM

So I guess you're talking about a property that you want to buy.

If you instruct a structural engineer to do a report on the cracking, they will give you their opinion on the likelihood of it being subsidence.

If there's suspected subsidence, I doubt you'd get a mortgage on it. Has the mortgage valuer visited? What did they say?

Similarly, if there's suspected subsidence you're unlikely to get buildings insurance - except by continuing with the seller's current insurers.

To make an insurance claim, the cracks would need to be monitored for some time to see if there is ongoing movement.

(There's no indemnity insurance that would be relevant to this.)

chrisuk19 · 22 October 2021 at 6:30PM

Hi,

Thanks very much for the reply. Yes, it's a property that I'd like to buy. The mortgage valuer did visit, but they did not pick it up (one of those quick survey).

It seems like I need to wait for the structural engineers report before any further action then?

Thanks
Chris

andy444 · 22 October 2021 at 9:52PM

Do you have any photos of these cracks?

chrisuk19 · 23 October 2021 at 4:36PM

Hi Andy - not yet, I'll try and get them

canaldumidi · 23 October 2021 at 5:33PM

Are the lounge doors new(ish)? Are they perhaps replacement PVC doors replacing old wooden ones? Might they be wider than whatever was there before? Sometimes replacement pvc windows/doors are put in without adding support tothe brickwork above that was peveiously supported by the wooden window/door frame itself. Result can be cracking as brickwork above drops.

Key factor is always whether any movement is ongoing (hence the need to monitor cracks over time). Many houses move at some point, ut if a crack is long-standing, and not getting bigger, it is of litle concern.

A structural engineer should identify a likely cause and whether serious, though may well recommend ongoing measurements (not much help in your decision as that means 6-12 months!).

Insurance is often possible via specialist policies from a broker.More expensive, and the insurance underwriters willmake a decision basedon the strucural engineer's report.