Structural movement tenement

PoGee

Is structural movement the same as subsidence? If it is, how difficult would it be to get building insurance? Property home report says - historical structural movement, steel ties, part of wall appears to have been rebuilt. Chances of further movement remote. Structural repairs not required.

All tenement flats in Glasgow seem to have some sort of movement. Adult child looking at a flat they really like.

On asking a resident, they said work was done in 1988ish and no issues since then.

user1977

PoGee said:

Is structural movement the same as subsidence?

No.

The comments are pretty commonplace - past strengthening work less so, though hardly rare - might put off some buyers but objectively it's probably a better bet than a similar building which hasn't been strengthened!

What neighbourhood are we talking about?

PoGee

Glasgow Charing Cross area. Doing online insurance quotes - should it be a 'yes' or 'no' to subsidence/heave/landslip question? No quotes if ticking 'no' but to call to discuss.
No insurance through factor and not asked other resident yet.

dunstonh

Is structural movement the same as subsidence? 

No.    Go anywhere on clay and where there are Victorian or earlier houses, and most of them will have some structural movement.   Particularly in drought years.

Property home report says - historical structural movement, steel ties, part of wall appears to have been rebuilt. Chances of further movement remote. Structural repairs not required.

Again, this pretty much describes many old buildings.

Doing online insurance quotes - should it be a 'yes' or 'no' to subsidence/heave/landslip question?

The key is to read the question and answer it correctly.  Don't misread or try to misinterpret the question.   You have listed three things but not mentioned movement.  Normally there will be a question on movement or part of the same question.

However, online comparison sites don't particularly like unusual builds and will cherry-pick.  So, quoting from a local broker or NFU or similar is usually better way.

PoGee

Thanks for replies.

The question they ask to confirm is - 'doesn't have a history - or show signs of - subsidence, landslip, or ground heave'

Does the part that says 'shows signs of', mean we should tick - yes? Or is it still 'no',  as the home report calls it movement? 

No further question mentioning movement.

user1977

PoGee said:

Glasgow Charing Cross area. Doing online insurance quotes - should it be a 'yes' or 'no' to subsidence/heave/landslip question? No quotes if ticking 'no' but to call to discuss.
No insurance through factor and not asked other resident yet.

It's not subsidence or heave or landslip. It's settlement.

Haven't heard of Charing Cross being particularly troublesome an area - you get more old mine workings if you go more towards Hillhead.