Surveyor missed subsidence

Section62

gracelet88 said:

macman said:

You have diagnosed subsidence, from a crack, by means of a video call? I don't think that's going to be very conclusive.

Not a helpful comment. Of course I know that. 

macman's post is factual though.

You asked  "...should I be pursuing the surveyor for failing to identify subsidence in a level 2 survey?"

The answer is you first need to establish - conclusively - that the crack is caused by subsidence, that it was present when the survey was carried out, and that a surveyor acting with the appropriate level of diligence would have diagnosed it as such.

tooldle

We used to own an Edwardian house. Solid walls, rendered externally and plastered internally. Cracks were a regular occurrence as the building moved and flexed, heated and cooled etc. You've said the wall is load bearing but not if it is internal or external. Any other signs of movement, for examples out of square doors and windows? 
If you are worried call your insurance company. If they believe there is a possible issue, the crack will be monitored for movement. Definitely not something to 'diagnose' via a video call or indeed a reason to jump straight to worse case scenario.

gracelet88

user1977 said:

gracelet88 said:

What if the problem emerged after them completing the various property information forms? 

Yes, the PIF is meant to be up to date as at exchange, but which question on the property information form do you think is relevant?

Good point. I don't think there's anything in it I can rely on that relates to structure :-(

Section62

tooldle said:

If you are worried call your insurance company. If they believe there is a possible issue, the crack will be monitored for movement. Definitely not something to 'diagnose' via a video call or indeed a reason to jump straight to worse case scenario.

Contacting the insurer needs to be done with some caution, especially if they are to be told that the OP's QS father has diagnosed the problem as likely subsidence.

Once you tell the insurer you think you have subsidence it can set hares running that can be difficult to catch again.  Whilst it is important to be honest with the insurer and notify them of material facts, there's a delicate balance between notifying them of a fact, and notifying them of a concern (which may prove unfounded).

The better approach is often to start with a structural engineer and ask them for an opinion.  Some insurers will just tell you to do that anyway and come back with the SE's report when you've got it.

gracelet88

Section62 said:

gracelet88 said:

macman said:

You have diagnosed subsidence, from a crack, by means of a video call? I don't think that's going to be very conclusive.

Not a helpful comment. Of course I know that. 

macman's post is factual though.

You asked  "...should I be pursuing the surveyor for failing to identify subsidence in a level 2 survey?"

The answer is you first need to establish - conclusively - that the crack is caused by subsidence, that it was present when the survey was carried out, and that a surveyor acting with the appropriate level of diligence would have diagnosed it as such.

This is very helpful. Thank you

tooldle

I appreciate that having previously owned an underpinned house, and having knowledge of just how long such a property was under active monitoring prior to subsidence being diagnosed. My thinking was the insurer may run the OP through the process for a potential claim, and though doing so may bring some realism to the situation.
I know a few QS's and i would not ask any of them to diagnose a structural issue, and i'm myself an engineer. Horses for appropriate courses. 

gracelet88

tooldle said:

I appreciate that having previously owned an underpinned house, and having knowledge of just how long such a property was under active monitoring prior to subsidence being diagnosed. My thinking was the insurer may run the OP through the process for a potential claim, and though doing so may bring some realism to the situation.
I know a few QS's and i would not ask any of them to diagnose a structural issue, and i'm myself an engineer. Horses for appropriate courses. 

If I hadn't literally just bought the house a week ago I'd be in touch with the insurer, but a close read of the policy suggests they will not cover this and indeed hares running may well be set off. The problem may have existed before exchange and therefore before their cover came into effect unfortunately

tooldle

@Gracelet 88 Are there any other signs and where in the property is said wall that is cracked? 
Very important to keep perspective as there are many other reasons for cracking. 

stuart45

If you're on shrinkable clay you might find the crack will open and close with the seasons. This was quite common after the summer of 1976. Cracks opened up in houses and many were underpinned, but in the ones that weren't the cracks often closed agaon.