Victorian terrace survey

Alexandra2022

I've had this back from a survey on a Victorian terrace I am looking to buy:
"There appears to be an original door way from the entrance hallway blocked up and a dividing wall removed between both reception rooms to enlarge this room. I noted no evidence of any distress around the opening, but your Legal Adviser should check that Building Regulation Approval was granted for the removal of the wall"
I don't think there is any record from building control. If that is the case, what course of action would others recommend I take?

Alexandra2022

The surveyor also notes that
". There is certainly no evidence of defects to the first floor walls or floors to suggest the support is not adequate and it would have been carried out many years ago."

 

mi-key

It could have been done 100 years ago, so there will be no building regulation record of it. If your solicitor has checked and there is no record, then don't worry about it. Also the survey says it was done properly and there is no danger of the house falling down.

fackers_2

100% worth getting things checked further. Ie a structural survey. 

You’ll thank yourself much later down the line avoiding any nasty surprises if what sounds like the first floor isn’t correctly supported. 

Sometimes, things need just a little closer look. 

mi-key

fackers_2 said:

100% worth getting things checked further. Ie a structural survey. 

You’ll thank yourself much later down the line avoiding any nasty surprises if what sounds like the first floor isn’t correctly supported. 

Sometimes, things need just a little closer look. 

Their survey has already said there is no movement on the first floor and it seems correctly supported

Noneforit999

It entirely depends on your risk appetite.

If somebody removes a supporting wall and doesn't provide the support needed, its going to show signs after a while, assuming it doesn't cause issues immediately. 

The lack of building control would not be a deal breaker for me, especially if it was done years/decades ago as people often didn't bother back then. We have a central supporting wall in ours with no BC, no idea when it was done but I can clearly see the RSJ (albeit boxed in) and there are no obvious signs of issues such as cracking etc.

You can ask the vendor if they will allow a structural engineer to look but unless the RSJ is visible, I suspect they will want to cut into the wall to see how it sits etc. If I were a vendor, I wouldn't be allowing someone to cut into my walls. I would be advising that its been like that for X years and if it wasn't supported adequately there would be signs by now so the buyer can take it or leave it. 

Alexandra2022

Thanks all - certainly some different points of view here! If the wall isn't properly supported does anyone know how much it would cost to put right. (I know this would only be an approximation) Based on that, I may get it checked out post sale

jimbog

Alexandra2022 said:

Thanks all - certainly some different points of view here! If the wall isn't properly supported does anyone know how much it would cost to put right. (I know this would only be an approximation) Based on that, I may get it checked out post sale

https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/installing-rsj

stuart45

The removal of the spine wall in a Victorian terrace without regs often crops up in sales.
The action taken will often depend on the market. Ideal action for the buyer is that the seller gets Regularisation and pays for it.
Anoher option is that you pay for it. 
Another is that you buy it regardless. Or you could walk away.
There's a fair chance it's been done properly, but you might find that this situation comes up again when you wish to sell.
Only you can really decide.

user1977

I would say the vast majority of buyers will be happy with their surveyor telling them there's nothing visibly wrong with a historic alteration. As alluded to above, if you start making further demands, the vendor might decide another buyer would be less hassle (what happens if a structural engineer or building control start suggesting additional works be done which are arguably not essential?).

mi-key

If it was done a long time ago, as the survey states, and there has been no movement or problems with upstairs, you can be 99% sure it's not going to cause a problem in the future.