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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - non standard construction house

57 replies

WhispersAnonymous · 22/08/2020 15:06

Hello... I need the wisdom of some wide mumsnetters, viewed a house today and was told it's of concrete construction.. not sure what type. Would this put you off? Does anyone know what type it is?

Listing below - www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/54710255?search_identifier=47309d6b4b0193446bbfd49af37d5de6

OP posts:
jessycake · 22/08/2020 16:38

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/betteshanger.html. others in this road have sold , It was a pit village , but Deal has become very popular just lately

LittleOwl153 · 22/08/2020 16:48

Talk to the neighbours, very local estate agents and builders. If there is a row of such houses then the locals will know more about them and how to handle insurance etc. (Just sold a non-standard ex council).

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 22/08/2020 17:06

@littleowl153

Did you encounter any issues when selling the property?

OP posts:
LakieLady · 22/08/2020 17:13

There used to be a coal mine at Betteshanger. You might need a specialist survey to see if there are any issues that might arise from old mine workings.

Whereisthechicken · 22/08/2020 17:24

I tried to buy a house of non standard construction and the bank wouldn't give me any money until I spent ££££ on a list of inspections they recommended. Turns out the estate agent was hiding a damp problem from us anyway so we decided not to go ahead with it

BurnIt · 22/08/2020 17:37

I live in a non standard concrete house (Wimpey no fines) and we did have to swap mortgage but only to Abbey National (as it was) we also have a fab big garden and other houses the same sell on the street. I DID work in a specialist mortgage lender at the time and I asked one of the lenders, he laughed and said it's fine he lives in one himself . Its fine

Teaand · 22/08/2020 17:51

In Cornwall these houses need a municipal test to make sure it doesn't have concrete cancer before it's possible to get a mortgage on them.

Teaand · 22/08/2020 17:52

Stupid phone changing that mundic test

CornedBeef451 · 22/08/2020 18:02

My friend has one of these and can't sell it!

Intelinside57 · 22/08/2020 18:19

If you decide you're interested Op I'd research that price carefully. It seems high for a NSC house to me. (I've been looking around for something to buy outright and they are normally well below the price of more mortgageable properties).

FlamingoAndJohn · 22/08/2020 18:46

@thegcatsmother

My house is non standard construction as it was built in 1835. Finished paying off the mortgage last year. Mils place was built in the 1500s, and they had a mortgage on that.
There is a difference though between an historic house and a newer nonstandard construction house.
Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 22/08/2020 19:27

Gutted as builder has said to avoid it as they are bad for condensation etc... Feel like I'm in mourning now

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 22/08/2020 21:16

I would actually take someone to see - it may be that it is a concrete house but the work necessary to proof it against the deterioration concrete/steel can suffer has already been done perhaps!

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 22/08/2020 21:24

I am going to wait to see what the estate agent comes back with on Monday. It's been a long time since I've been this excited at a house. Obviously the remedial work could in theory be done to make it a standard construction, but then I'd lose the house I like? Obviously other houses in the area have sold and for a decent price so you never know I suppose. Depending on the estate agents response we might visit again and drag our builder along. The current owner has been there since construction I believe, it is also worth noting that there is no gas to the property and they are currently using gas cylinders so would need to factor in the cost of getting gas run to the property.

OP posts:
Kittywampus · 22/08/2020 21:25

My grandparents lived in a 'non standard' house, it was built after the war as 'temporary housing' but they lived there for 50 years Grin. It was a council house and they were unable to take advantage of right to buy because they couldn't get a mortgage for it.

dizzyupthegirl86 · 22/08/2020 23:02

I have a wimpy no fines too - had three mortgages on it so far and it’s never ever been an issue. In the middle of selling it now and my buyers mortgage got rejected because of it, they appealed (identical house next door sold last year) and they changed their mind and agreed to issue the mortgage the very next day.

I don’t know if it makes a difference but I was told building societies are more likely to approve them (my last two mortgages have been Yorkshire Building society, and new buyers is another building society) although I only found that out last week and I’ve no idea why!

confusednortherner · 22/08/2020 23:08

We had a steel framed bungalow that was non standard construction, no problem getting a mortgage and no problem selling it either! Never had gas there only oil heating and electric cooker. House we are in now has oil heaters and gas bottles for cooking, they are no fine. Think the last one cost about £100 and has been on over a year.

LittleOwl153 · 22/08/2020 23:14

@WhispersAnonymous We sold to a cash buyer - but through an agent who knew the area - there is a whole council estate of such houses of varying construction types few of them standard - built in the 50's.

We did loose a buyer who had mortgage trouble. It wasnt on the market that long but wasnt a high value sale.

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 23/08/2020 08:07

@Porridgeoat

We are currently in a mid terrace at the moment and I hate it. We also need parking as currently ours is on street permit parking which is a pain! We have another house lined up to go and view but I don't have the same feelings about it 🙄

OP posts:
FlamingoAndJohn · 23/08/2020 08:44

Do check that you can get gas there at all. You can’t in a lot of villages.

Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 23/08/2020 10:12

I had a general look around the area and couldn't see anyone else running off of these cannisters. It's interesting as it was the first time ever I saw a combi boiler running off of those cylinders

OP posts:
Original poster
WhispersAnonymous · 23/08/2020 10:58

So I feel like I know more about concrete properties than anyone at this point 😂 so the house from what I have found online is most likely a Parkinson PRC house. Which is registered as a defective type under the 1985 defective house act... So unless the current owner has has it repaired which given that she claims she didn't know it was concrete is extremely unlikely. Thus it basically means that the house is worthless 😮

OP posts:
Kittywampus · 24/08/2020 08:33

Oh dear, I'm sorry op. Fingers crossed that you will find something soon.

FlamingoAndJohn · 24/08/2020 12:19

@WhispersAnonymous

So I feel like I know more about concrete properties than anyone at this point 😂 so the house from what I have found online is most likely a Parkinson PRC house. Which is registered as a defective type under the 1985 defective house act... So unless the current owner has has it repaired which given that she claims she didn't know it was concrete is extremely unlikely. Thus it basically means that the house is worthless 😮
Wow. That’s a shame for you but completely sucks for the owner. She’s effectively trapped there because she can’t really sell it.