HELP! I can't sell my house

gwynlas

Have any houses in your terrace sold in the last five years? Can you ask owners if this mine shaft was an issue for them and who their lender is? Advise your estate agent to be upfront with viewers who no doubt already know they are buying in a past mining area.

Keep_pedalling

20m is very close I assume you mean miles not metres. 

UnderOffer

Keep_pedalling said:

20m is very close I assume you mean miles not metres. 

20 miles! Surely that wouldn’t be considered an issue if it was miles. 

scottishblondie

We bought in 2018 with a mineshaft within the boundary of the property - we're not sure exactly where it is, but it's either under the driveway or the pavement just outside.  Probably only 10m away from the house, and within 20m of several other properties.  We had to get the reports from the Coal Authority, but the lender (Halifax) had no issue with it.  We had the property revalued before we proceeded, and the surveyor did not change the valuation.  It didn't put us off as we're in a historical mining area and the whole place is riddled with them.  Our home insurance didn't care about it either.  I can understand that the information might spook a buyer, especially a FTB, but your property is certainly not un-mortgageable or un-sellable, so I would just hold tight and keep it on the market.  

user1977

Keep_pedalling said:

20m is very close I assume you mean miles not metres. 

Eh? The search radius doesn't even reach one mile. It'll be metres.

pearlygatesuk

Mrs_Z said:

Just a thought, is there no indemnity insurance that could cover this type of issue? There usually is for all sorts of things!

There's an indemnity cover provided by the coal authority but DESPITE this they still won't lend - I give up!

pearlygatesuk

scottishblondie said:

We bought in 2018 with a mineshaft within the boundary of the property - we're not sure exactly where it is, but it's either under the driveway or the pavement just outside.  Probably only 10m away from the house, and within 20m of several other properties.  We had to get the reports from the Coal Authority, but the lender (Halifax) had no issue with it.  We had the property revalued before we proceeded, and the surveyor did not change the valuation.  It didn't put us off as we're in a historical mining area and the whole place is riddled with them.  Our home insurance didn't care about it either.  I can understand that the information might spook a buyer, especially a FTB, but your property is certainly not un-mortgageable or un-sellable, so I would just hold tight and keep it on the market.  

Thankyou for this, that's very kind and reassuring, its just such a worry 

daveyjp

user1977 said:

Mrs_Z said:

Just a thought, is there no indemnity insurance that could cover this type of issue? There usually is for all sorts of things!

Not really. After all, the actual risk (of the house suffering damage from old coal mining) is in effect covered by the government, as the Coal Authority would pay out - it's really the hassle/worry factor that puts off buyers (and lenders).

That's only the case where the Coal Authority has accepted liability for the mineshaft and mineworkings.  Usually because at one time the mines were owned and operated by the National Coal Board.

Mining in the UK has been ongoing for hundreds of years, with many small mine shafts little more than 1m x 1m and up to maybe 20m deep (large enough for a child to go down and mine), created at the start of the industrial revolution.  Coal, ironstone, quarried stone etc.  These can be anywhere and many aren't mapped.

The Coal Authority generally won't accept liability for damage from these workings until they are satisfied work has been carried out to stabilise the shaft and any adits.  Thats why lenders get nervous.

TBagpuss

If big high street lenders ike Halifax and NatWest don't have an issue then you should still be able to sell, it soundsas though it may be smaller lenders that are more jumpy. It may take a bit longer and it's perhaps worth speaking toyour solicitor about whenther when you next get an offer, it makes sense to provide a copy of the mining search so it can be flagged up early in the process. 

Sarah1Mitty2

As mentioned cash buyer is most likely the best route.