Advice — Wall crack, stairs repair, gas/electric, damp floor

JRG123

Hello,

Moved into a victorian terraced house and gradually renovating.

One major headache is this cupboard under the stairs, I would like to renovate this area to a good standard, that looks neat/tidy and is safe/sound. Any thoughts on how best to tackle this would be appreciated as there’s lots to consider…

A few parts to this question so bear with…

WALL CRACK (PARTY WALL)
There is a big crack that has been masked with concrete by previous owner. I’m hoping its nothing serious. Visually i would like the cement to be removed and have bricks repointed, then repainted. However the crack goes quite far up behind staircase, which makes access hard.

STAIRCASE
The staircase has layers of repairs/supports, there is a timber frame support which I have now removed part of for metre access. I would like to fully renovate/restore Victorian staircase so there are no supports and everything looks well finished. Can someone come and assess/replace certain steps etc?

ELECTRICS

• Old fuse boards/cabling have been replaced and moved position to left well to avoid cable chaos (see comparison pics old vs new)
• Main fuse is being replaced by network next week
• Metre is being replaced with smart metre
• Electrician will then come back and put tails in metre/conduit

I have shared two sets of images:
1. As cupboard was when we moved in
2. Updated fuseboard position (part of timber frame also removed)

GAS
There is a gas meter, it looks fairly old, should we replace?

FLOORING
Another thing to note is the flooring. There are parts where it is cracking/coming away. We have also noticed the floor can become wet to touch at periods during year.

Thankyou. Just looking for advice on how best to tackle, don’t mind spending a bit of money on Professionals!

gwynlas

if there is extensive cracking you should employ the services of a structural engineer to verify cause and suggest remedy.
The wood supports under the stairs would appear to be a temprary fix to remedy problems, a carpenter could advise and fix.
An old gas meter that is still  working does not need replacement unless you are doing a full refurishment when both meters could be relocated enabling them to be read externally.
If the floor feels wet at times this indicates water ingress either rising damp or breached drainage

FreeBear

A couple of comments about pipes and concrete - Copper and lead will quietly corrode in the presence of cement. It may take 20 years for pinhole leaks to appear. If you have water pipes in that area, potentially, a source of your damp.

Steel/iron pipes will rust - Had a very old disused gas pipe under a concrete floor in my kitchen extension (still connected to the gas main out in the street). Doing some work under the suspended timber floor, and could smell gas. Gas board were out within hours to disconnect the rusting pipe from the main, cutting my immediate neighbour off in the process (they got a new connection free of charge out of it).

JRG123

Thanks @FreeBear and @gwynlas, both very helpful messages.

I will get in touch with a structural engineer and carpenter as a first step.