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First Time Buyer Getting Spooked - Daylight in Loft / Plaster cracks

uberjason
Posts: 25 Forumite

Hello everyone. This forum seems really useful and hoping to get some of your opinions on a few things to do with a house I am looking to put an offer in on.
I know things like these would come up on a survey but I want some informed opinions to see if I even want to get to that point as not looking for a project or a "doer upper" or waste a chunk of money.
Viewed this old English countryside house for the third time this week, it's a small Victorian brick terrace that the neighbour is seller as they own both houses and selling this small one. Apparently they were also council houses in the 50/60s but unconfirmed.
I opened up the loft hatch and noticed some spots of light and then a brighter patch, about the size of a tile. But after looking outside, the roof looks completely ok. After reading on here I know that some gaps are normal and needed. But it's spoked me just looks so odd. The seller reckons it is perfectly fine and looks bad as the there is no roof felt used when the roof got done.
Also the walls in the lounge have these cracks that look pencilled on (for a sense of scale), not sure if this just happens to plaster over time or a sign of something worse.
Thanks for any advice or tips with this, I'm not adept at house stuff and don't have any one to ask.
Love this house, hoping I am being an over reacting newbie.
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Comments
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I would stay clear of old country houses like this. There is a lot of maintenance required and a lot of risks. Energy efficiency will also be poor.
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Our previous house brick end terrace was built around 1930 and the roof is original as far as I can see, plenty of day light in the loft as there are only roof tiles no felt as in your case. No leaks or other problems with the roof in the 10 years we lived there.Gas: warm air central heating, instant water heater, Octopus tracker
Electricity: 3kw south facing solar array, EV, Octopus intelligent1 -
The hairline cracks in the plaster are nothing to worry about. Completely normal in many houses, old and new.
Some 'Polycell hairline crack polyfilla' and a coat of paint will get rid of them.
In the roof, the tiny glimmers of light are OK I think, but it looks like there is damage in the top corner to a couple of tiles. Normally would not be a big job for someone to sort. Are you sure you can not see anything at all in that area from outside?0 -
Albermarle said:The hairline cracks in the plaster are nothing to worry about. Completely normal in many houses, old and new.
Some 'Polycell hairline crack polyfilla' and a coat of paint will get rid of them.
In the roof, the tiny glimmers of light are OK I think, but it looks like there is damage in the top corner to a couple of tiles. Normally would not be a big job for someone to sort. Are you sure you can not see anything at all in that area from outside?
Good to hear it wouldn't be a big job, but really did spook me.
Thanks for the confidence with the plaster cracks!0
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