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Original poster

house built in a coal mining area! reassurance desperately needed.

39 replies

concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:31

ive changed my name as im in the middle of buying a house and until i at least exchange, i dont want to tempt fate. im relocating to be near my family and ive had the survey done on the house im buying, essentially its come back ok, i had a full structural survey done and have a very detailed report, its come back with the usual stuff, might need a new boiler, plaster blown a bit in the extension, get the electrics checked etc, plus it says that the house may need a new roof in the not to distant future(its 36 years old).
the overview is that the house is woprth the money though and is in generally sound condition and is in a desirable location..
however in the deficiencies section, apart from the roof etc, it says;
"Te house is in an area of past mining activity and therefore a coal mining search report should be obtained before proceeding"
eek! does this mean my house will dissappear down a mine shaft at some point?

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moondog · 04/04/2006 21:32

Could well do.
I wouldn't proceed without a survey (the second of the three types you get at least)
However,they will always find something wrong..

starlover · 04/04/2006 21:32

could do! i saw it on tv once, a whole row of houses had their gardens disappear, and one house went with it!

I would imagine it's unlikely... but if it were me i'd rather make sure!

Crystaltips · 04/04/2006 21:34

I wonder what the house insurance would / wouldn't cover IF you Haven't done the survey .... ?

Pruni · 04/04/2006 21:35

We had to get one of these when we bought our house in Fife.
It's usually a formality - and not v expensive iirc.

Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:35

omg! well this is the finding of the full sdurvey ive had done, im not worried about the other stuff, but this is scary, the report says i must now have a coal mining search carried out by my solicitor, but the building society say they will forward the mortgage offer, they havent said they will only send the formal offer if i have the coal mining search.

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Pruni · 04/04/2006 21:36

Don't panic, it's really not that unusual.

Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:37

can you remember how much it cost pruni?

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Pruni · 04/04/2006 21:37

Sorry, I've been trying to remember but I can't.
It wasn't a shock amount.

Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:37

im only panicking a little! i only got the report today and its taken me a while to read it.

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Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:38

does it alter the cost of household insurance?

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starlover · 04/04/2006 21:39

you may find that the mortgage company won't lend the money until the survey has been done.

ours refused because our survey said the roof was dodgy and we needed a structural engineer round

philippat · 04/04/2006 21:40

don't hassle yourself, you always have to do this if in area of coal mining activity (your solictor a bit lax not to have mentioned it upfront). I did it myself, cost £16. They would have charged me £20. Basically they get whoever it is in charge of mining these days to check all their maps and see if they can spot you are over an old shaft.

philippat · 04/04/2006 21:41

nothing on insurance (well other than the fact that all houses in this postcode have same risk)

jamiesam · 04/04/2006 21:41

You ought to check this out but this alert will be put on thousands (millions?) of properties in the north, midlands etc that are all in areas of past mining activity.

Only the coal mining search report will tell you if house is likely to disappear next week (lol!) But honestly, 99% of reports will come back OK - the information would have been around when the house was built 36 years ago!. The mining may well have finished long before the house was built and if it's still there after 36 years it's not going anywhere now.

Try and find out yourself where your mining advisory service is and see if they can reassure you over the phone, and/or let you know how long the report would take to produce (our South Yorks service is very efficient I believe Smile)

Good luck with house.

Pruni · 04/04/2006 21:42

We do have to declare it on the insurance but I don't know how much it alters the cost.
In the area where we bought, everyone is in the same boat.
As I said, it's mostly a formality.

philippat · 04/04/2006 21:43

\link{http://www.coal.gov.uk/services/miningreports/index.cfm\here you go}

Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:44

its not in south yorks, its so annoying cos its probaly going to hold up the sale now and my buyers are snapping at my heels, it will be just my luck, its over a blimmin shaft.

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Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:46

thanks pruni, am reading

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philippat · 04/04/2006 21:47

I'd say this effects millions of houses - basically anywhere where they once mined, so most of northumbria, yorkshire, derbyshire, staffordshire, westmidlands, welsh valleys etc etc. It won't just be your house, same for everyone in your village/town.

jamiesam · 04/04/2006 21:48

Why not phone your solicitor tomorrow and find out if they commissioned a mining search report after they got the local search back from the council (as phillipat points out) - I feel sure that local search should have shown up that you were in an area of past mining activity. If the solicitor didn't do this, or isn't embarrassed into doing it quickly for you now, he/she ought at least to be able to supply you with contact details for your local mining advisory service...

NotActuallyAMum · 04/04/2006 21:50

I live in South Derbyshire, there used to be so many pits round here as far as I know every house sale has to have a coalmining report. My old house had 3 shafts under it but the report said they were far enough under not to be a problem

Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:58

meant to say thanks phillipat! sorry am sall a fluster!

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Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 21:59

jamiesam-the solicitor hasnt been able to do the searches yet as she hasnt had thr draft contract yet from our vvendors solicitors.

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Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 22:00

sorry pruni wasnt being rude, accidentally thanked you for that linkBlush

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Original poster
concernedhousebuyer · 04/04/2006 22:06

thanks everyone for your replies, will update after coal mining search(im still worried)

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