Building concerns

FunLovinCriminal

Good afternoon

I wonder if you can offer some advice please.

We bought a property in 2008.  We remortgaged in 2012 with a new mortgage provider and the new mortgage company asked to look in our loft. Upon their inspection they saw that the struts in the loft had been removed by the previous owners to make the loft an extra room. They recommended us to get a joiner to replace them.  We did this in 2012 and assumed everything was all fine.

Today we had a joiner out on a separate issue. He thinks the previous joiner has not done an adequate job, and recommended a structural engineer to inspect it.

We have concerns now on what to do. Are we able to claim through home insurance? Are we even covered? 

Any advice for a concerned FLC?

DE_612183

Home Insurance may cover legal fees should you try and sue the previous joiner - but I suspect that they will not cover for repairs to damage you instigated yourself.

FunLovinCriminal

DE_612183 said:

Home Insurance may cover legal fees should you try and sue the previous joiner - but I suspect that they will not cover for repairs to damage you instigated yourself.

May be picking you up wrong, not looking at suing joiner, and we didnt damage the property ourselves, we tried to fix with a joiner. 
Our concern is a bill for a structural engineer and the repair work.
And that we are not insured
And that if we cannot afford the repair, we cannot claim on the insurance as we are not covered due to a) not declaring what the previous owner and mortgage advisor did/saw
b) repair work not up to standard

We have remortgaged twice since then, neither provider sent anyone around to the house.

DE_612183

I doubt if home insurance would cover the cost of a structural engineer  - although you could ask.

Albermarle

they saw that the struts in the loft had been removed by the previous owners to make the loft an extra room. They recommended us to get a joiner to replace them.  We did this in 2012 and assumed everything was all fine.

So was the loft being used as an actual extra room? Or do you mean they were removed to make a bit of extra room? 

FunLovinCriminal

Albermarle said:

they saw that the struts in the loft had been removed by the previous owners to make the loft an extra room. They recommended us to get a joiner to replace them.  We did this in 2012 and assumed everything was all fine.

So was the loft being used as an actual extra room? Or do you mean they were removed to make a bit of extra room? 

I assume they were trying to do a loft conversion  kids handprints on the walls, carpet on the floor, struts removed so they wouldnt hit their heads etc. But sold it before completing the "project"

bryanb

what did your surveyor say about the roof/loft when you bought the house?

FunLovinCriminal

Nothing was mentioned. It was only when we changed mortgage provider was anything mentioned

Albermarle

FunLovinCriminal said:

Albermarle said:

they saw that the struts in the loft had been removed by the previous owners to make the loft an extra room. They recommended us to get a joiner to replace them.  We did this in 2012 and assumed everything was all fine.

So was the loft being used as an actual extra room? Or do you mean they were removed to make a bit of extra room? 

I assume they were trying to do a loft conversion  kids handprints on the walls, carpet on the floor, struts removed so they wouldnt hit their heads etc. But sold it before completing the "project"

A proper loft conversion is a serious construction project.
Architect/ structural surveyor/ experienced builder etc
It’s not just about taking a few struts out.

HHarry

It stayed upright for 4 years without the struts & another 13 years with the replacement struts. It’s unlikely it’s going anywhere.

FreeBear

HHarry said:

It stayed upright for 4 years without the struts & another 13 years with the replacement struts. It’s unlikely it’s going anywhere.

That unfortunately, is poor thinking. It could be that some of the timbers are under excessive loads and right on the cusp of failure. A high wind hitting in just the right direction could be all that is needed. Or a small earthquake may be just enough to trigger a collapse - And yes, we do get earthquakes in the UK -> https://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/education/faqs/faq6.html