Cracks in house - advice

Neatis

Hi guys,

I have recently had a bid accepted on a house, which I will of course get surveyed but I was hoping to get some early advice on it. I have people telling me with previous experience on one side that they would walk away, but people on the other side saying they wouldn’t worry. Basically the house had a fair few cracks on the outside and inside through previous render (maybe it was rendered to hide something who knows). The house is built over some mines and there’s definitely a couple on the street which are slanted. 

Of course a worry is it’s going to be costly or a problem, and an even bigger worry is even if the survey comes back clear does the visual cracks cause a huge problem from me selling it on from people over thinking exactly like I am now. 

I’ve attached the pictures, anyone that can give early some advice with this would be great. The last exterior picture is the one that worry’s me the most.

thanks 

Section62

Neatis said:

...

Of course a worry is it’s going to be costly or a problem, and an even bigger worry is even if the survey comes back clear does the visual cracks cause a huge problem from me selling it on from people over thinking exactly like I am now. 

I’ve attached the pictures, anyone that can give early some advice with this would be great. The last exterior picture is the one that worry’s me the most.

You aren't overthinking it, there is fairly strong evidence that structural movement is taking place.

Where is the wall (with the mirror on it) relative to the outside picture - do you have a floor plan you could share?

Plasticman

Those cracks could be something big, could be something minor. I'd be more worried that "The house is built over some mines and there’s definitely a couple on the street which are slanted". I'd personally walk away on that basis but I'm quite risk averse.

jimbog

the ones on the ceiling seem like the joins between the plasterboard which I wouldn't be worried about. Looks like there was a leak next to the chimney breast - what's above it? The vertical line on the coving looks like where two sections were joined

Neatis

Thanks for the input guys, the cracks on the exterior wall Is the same wall as the pictures I sent from the interior, just on the other side but in different places.

 I’ve attached the floor plan and I’ve also just found a couple of pictures from previous listings  of 2017 and 2009 where you can see the same exterior. Im guessing that’s a good
things that it’s been there 15 years Atleast and hasn’t been flagged up by previous surveyors. 

Section62

Neatis said:

Thanks for the input guys, the cracks on the exterior wall Is the same wall as the pictures I sent from the interior, just on the other side but in different places.

The wall in the interior pictures doesn't have a window in it?  Instead there's what looks like a chimney breast, which the floor plan suggests that one is the gable wall?

Neatis

jimbog said:

the ones on the ceiling seem like the joins between the plasterboard which I wouldn't be worried about. Looks like there was a leak next to the chimney breast - what's above it? The vertical line on the coving looks like where two sections were joined

Thanks Jimbog that’s good to know, directly above it is a loft conversion, the furthest away wall is the matching wall you are referring too above 

Section62

Neatis said:

jimbog said:

the ones on the ceiling seem like the joins between the plasterboard which I wouldn't be worried about. Looks like there was a leak next to the chimney breast - what's above it? The vertical line on the coving looks like where two sections were joined

Thanks Jimbog that’s good to know, directly above it is a loft conversion, the furthest away wall is the matching wall you are referring too above 

The ripples in the paper on the ceiling are the most important feature in the pictures you've posted... until they are explained then the other cracks could be nothing, or could be part of significant structural movement.

Neatis

Section62 said:

Neatis said:

Thanks for the input guys, the cracks on the exterior wall Is the same wall as the pictures I sent from the interior, just on the other side but in different places.

The wall in the interior pictures doesn't have a window in it?  Instead there's what looks like a chimney breast, which the floor plan suggests that one is the gable wall?

Sorry for the confusion, the picture with the mirror in it I only posted because of the what seems like damp in the roof with the bubbled ceiling. The other pictures with the cracks on the green wall is a totally different one to the one with a mirror, more specifically it’s the same wall as the exterior cracks, just on the flip side. 

Section62

Neatis said:

Section62 said:

Neatis said:

Thanks for the input guys, the cracks on the exterior wall Is the same wall as the pictures I sent from the interior, just on the other side but in different places.

The wall in the interior pictures doesn't have a window in it?  Instead there's what looks like a chimney breast, which the floor plan suggests that one is the gable wall?

Sorry for the confusion, the picture with the mirror in it I only posted because of the what seems like damp in the roof with the bubbled ceiling. The other pictures with the cracks on the green wall is a totally different one to the one with a mirror, more specifically it’s the same wall as the exterior cracks, just on the flip side. 

I'd be relatively confident the ripples on the ceiling paper are a sign of movement rather than damp.

Those appear to be along the wall with the mirror/chimney breast, which is the corner wall perpendicular to the one at the front (with the very visible external cracks)?

If so, have you got pictires of the external wall with the chimney breast in it, and have you got an internal picture of the window in the front wall?