Anyone live in or know about the pros/cons of concrete houses?

[ToucanBlack]

Me and DH went to view a property on Saturday and it was our dream home! Spacious, ideal location, close to good schools and great price. I completely fell in love with it and started mentally arranging our furniture.

Anyway since then we have done some research into houses built in this way (concrete slabs joined with metal poles) and apparently Halifax are the only bank which will lead to buy such a house.

DH has now gone off the idea and thinks it's too big a risk. Does anyone know anything about these types of houses? Should we avoid?

TIA

Do you mean an RPC property? (Can't remember what RPC stands for though!)

We had one and got a mortgage with nationwide on it back in 2005. It was concrete when it was LA back in 1950s. When it was privately bought in the 1980s it was bricked up. The house got a certificate to say to what standard the work was done as structural stability etc.

We sold it in July. The buy to let lenders wouldn't do a mortgage on it buy I think most of the major high street types were fine.

I'd talk to a surveyor as they'll have a good idea about it and how it was converted.

FYI if its still concrete that could be a problem for the future. Lots of the LA ones near our old house were due to e knocked down as they had 'concrete cancer'. The bricked up ones obviously didn't have the concrete so weren't at risk.

Thanking for replying!

I'm not sure what RCP is
The house is 'bricked up' as you describe, but apparently (according to google) this can still be problematic.

Toucan - google isn't always the most realistic/ reassuring. :)
I still can't remember what RPC stands for but it was at the top of our old house' certificate.

You will need to find out when it was bricked up and see if they have the certificates. That should help set your mind at rest.

Bear in mind that there are still lots of concrete houses being bought back from councils. If mortgages were hard to get then nobody would be able to buy back iyswim.

All you can do is talk to your mortgage provider and find a surveyor if you have one.

Actually living in the house was fine - no different to anywhere else.
I don't think it's concrete past was the reason it took ages to sell - more due to the market being messed up and our EA not filtering out the time wasters.

Our old house was in the south west if that helps. :)

A friend of mine had a house like this (prefabricated concrete?) and struggled to get a mortgage to buy it in the first place. They sold it a few years ago but had a number of buyers who couldn't get mortgages because of how it was built.

If you have problems with metal fatigue or rusting, it is very expensive to put right, L.A. In this area have demolished several streets of this type of housing.

There are plenty of houses unlikely to suffer such problems, you are probably better choosing a house which will be easier to sell on.

Precast reinforced concrete = P.R.C.

Yes they are extremely difficult to get mortgages on due to 'non-standard construction.' If you truly love it and think you will stay there forever then fine but it will be very difficult to sell on unless you can find a cash buyer, and even then it may not be seen as a good investment unless it is in the most fabulous spot.

The buildings themselves rarely have the longevity of bricks and mortar, so maybe that is often reflected in the price - if it's in a fantastic area on a great plot for a great price then it might still be a decent investment for a bulldoze and rebuild project, but unless you keep it for several decades it's unlikely to make you any money by doing that. If it is still in good and serviceable nick for a long time then it might be worth buying it, but ultimately it likely to be reduced to the value of the land/plot only.

Although some fantastic examples of concrete builds do become classics and even listed buildings - like the Barbican for example.

Thank you all very much for your comments. Will do a bit more research and make a decision.

We're are torn because we will never be able to afford such a nice house in that area. But the old saying of 'if it sounds too good to be true...' Is ringing in my ears!

The houses on the street which haven't been bricked- up look like this

And the house itself cost about £50,000 less than similar houses in the area. Does sound too good does it .

Doesn't*

The last house on the top row is identical to the houses demolished by our local authority.

There is a house like this near us that has been sold and fallen through four or five times, presumably because its non-standard construction, despite being in a really nice area, all outstanding schools etc. Even though its priced well below standard houses. I think you would find it hard to sell.

Hi we have found a house that ticks all our boxes but is the Cornish style - as discussed on this page.
The work has been done and to next door but when asked to produce the certificate they gave next doors. They bought it 4 years ago through Santander with NO certificate.
Our solicitor and mortgage advisor have said not to touch it unless certificate is produced on their own house not next door.
Are these properties good once the work is done or should we expect further problems with this style of house. Appreciate the advice please before we throw away good money on a valuation. :-)

I know through a previous job that many local authorities have huge problems with Council housing built using non traditional methods of construction. Repair works can cost a fortune and it is often cheaper to pull them down and start again.

Definitely find a good surveyor. If it is a common building type in your area you may get good informal advice from a local estate agent (though not the one who you are buying g through.) Problem houses and indeed problem blocks do get known. The honest ones often advertise them as 'investment buyers only' meaning only people who don't need a mortgage.

Thank you for your reply. Basically are you saying even though concrete been replaced and brickwork done we could get further issues with this house and any idea what please ? Also i get the feeling you are saying give these houses a wide berth ?
The house next door is fabulous and been extended front and back etc so I am a bit confused now.

That is not what I am saying at all. I'm saying that there can be a lot of work needed to rectify structural problems. If the work has been done and there is a certificate saying this - On Your House - and in a way that satisfies the mortgage lender, then it should be fine (though I would still get a full structural survey done by a surveyor who knows about this type or construction and remedial work needed.)

However a certificate on the house next door is no use whatsoever. As is the fact that the house next door is fabulous.

(Actually if you are doing loads of structural work its probably a good time to extend.)

Remember if your solicitor and lender are dubious , so would any prospective buyers' be. On HUTH such constructions are often not mortgageable or of interest to few lenders at best.

Thank you all very much that sheds a bright light on it and really appreciate your help. Such a shame as this house is amazing as are lots of these types. Will see if certificate turns up but trying to pass next doors off as ok seems odd to me so now very wary. Thanks again :-)

Those are Cornish units. Loads of them where I live. We are in a concrete house but it's a lang easi-form. After pulling out of a BISF house (didn't realise how problematic they were having gown up in one) we viewed this house and loved it, offered and was accepted. Then we discovered it was non standard construction and I was devastated but I found out which type and spoke to a structural engineer who I had asked advice on the BISF and he said out of the non standard constructions, these are the best and have no problems at the moment so went ahead and will keep an eye on the market. If they start dropping in value then we'll sell.

I wouldn't buy a Cornish unit though, they have had loads of problems with the concrete cancer and even the ones that have been bricked, I'd still be wary. There are a few for sale near me (you're not looking there are you ) and they are ridiculously cheap whereas mine isn't that different to brick houses, price wise.

The house we are looking at is in Nantgarw cardiff and is prices at £143,000 with the work done but no certificate as yet.

Just worried that even though brick work done we will encounter more problems later on. So disappointed but very grateful to hear all this.

Hi everyone. Some might find this helpful, so I'm posting my experience with Cornish Unit Type 1 (the one with mansard roof).

I bought one after a very detailed research, and this is what I found out. As most know in the 80's this properties were listed as defective due to concrete deterioration. Many of owners (as well as local councils) carried out a PRC repair when they found out about this defect. But what you don't know is that these houses were the most sturdy from all PRC buildings made during the post war period. I can't find any information about any Cornish Unit Type 1 demolished cause of concrete cancer. People from the companies repairing PRC homes told me that during demolition never came across a structural defect that could be potentially dangerous, apart from minor chips here and there. So why buyers are so sceptic when it comes to purchasing Cornish Unit? Well, the answer is simple. Money. Although insignificant fraction of Cornish Units were defective (most cause of poor maintenance) banks refused mortgage loans. PRC Certificate requirement caused companies that smelled good cash opportunities, to exaggerate the problem beyond reason. Now hundreds of Cornish Units have been repaired for no need, as the original walls were still intact. Before I purchased the house I had to see it on my own eyes and researched the are and spoke with tens of owners knocking door to door. Most of these houses were in its original condition with the concrete blocks exposed to weather condition for decades. Nobody, complained about any structural problems.

I own original Cornish Unit for few years now and although there is no problem with the concrete, there are other issues that I must address. Ant that is poor insulation. There is practically nothing between mansard roof tiles and inner plasterboard wall. Same with lower floor (between concrete wall and plasterboard inner wall). After the insulation was done I haven noticed any inconvenience.

To sum it all together - If you looking for home for life and not an investment this house is for you. Much cheaper than traditional build and after proper insulation similarly efficient. But if you looking for future sale you will have a problem. 3 so far for sale on my street and since months no buyers interested. These houses are around for over 60 years and by the look of it they will be for another 60 or more.

Please remember that I wrote this post regarding to Cornish Unit type 1 only, not to all PRC buildings. Hope you find it helpful. All the best!

Tony.