Help! Step crack in bricks

Londonseller

I have spotted two separate step cracks coming from the same window. Is this a huge red flag for subsidence or could something have caused this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Albermarle

Photos would be useful.

anselld

It looks like the cracks have previously been repointed down the crack (slightly different colour of mortar) and then they have cracked again, which is not a good sign.  Is this part an extension or the main house?  What is the pebbledash area to the right?

Section62

Londonseller said:

I have spotted two separate step cracks coming from the same window. Is this a huge red flag for subsidence or could something have caused this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

The cracks suggest downward movement of the wall to the left and below the window.

It also appears there have been some previous attempts to repair/disguise the cracking (i.e. a different type of mortar), so it is possible the total amount of movement is greater than the current crack width.

Are you selling or buying this property?

Londonseller

Thanks for the responses, I didn't spot that the mortar was different. So they habe clearly tried to patch over the cracks without sorting out the root cause. I am looking to buy the property. It's in an ideal location but those cracks are very concerning. 

Londonseller

anselld said:

It looks like the cracks have previously been repointed down the crack (slightly different colour of mortar) and then they have cracked again, which is not a good sign.  Is this part an extension or the main house?  What is the pebbledash area to the right?

The pebble dashing area is the exterior wall to the second bedroom. Not sure why that part is pebbledashed.

RAS

Do you know if these are recently replaced windows?

Londonseller

RAS said:

Do you know if these are recently replaced windows?

Not sure when the windows replaced, could that also be a possible cause of the cracks?

Section62

Londonseller said:

RAS said:

Do you know if these are recently replaced windows?

Not sure when the windows replaced, could that also be a possible cause of the cracks?

On the ground floor, under a window, unlikely to be the case.  Above a window, more likely if the window didn't have a lintel and one wasn't installed when fitting plastic windows.

Is the dark area above the window boarded with wood (or are they just dark bricks), and is there another window above that?

Londonseller

Section62 said:

Londonseller said:

RAS said:

Do you know if these are recently replaced windows?

Not sure when the windows replaced, could that also be a possible cause of the cracks?

On the ground floor, under a window, unlikely to be the case.  Above a window, more likely if the window didn't have a lintel and one wasn't installed when fitting plastic windows.

Is the dark area above the window boarded with wood (or are they just dark bricks), and is there another window above that?

Yes that's right, it's boarded with wood and then another window above that.

grumpy_codger

Section62 said:

Londonseller said:

I have spotted two separate step cracks coming from the same window. Is this a huge red flag for subsidence or could something have caused this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

The cracks suggest downward movement of the wall to the left and below the window.

In this case I'd expect cracks at the top of the wall, above the window.
To me they suggest that either a part of wall under the window* subsides or the middle of the house (the right side of the window)
* Possibly, by "to the left and below the window" you mean the same.