Offering on a house with underground stream

[Lolly567]

Apparently the house we like is above an underground stream. The owners have had a damp proofing course done in the last 15 years. What are the chances we’d have to have one done again? And how much would this cost does anyone know?

before you do anything else, run some insurance quotes!

Ours has a 30 year guarantee, ask to see the sellers’ guarantee.

But yes about the insurance!

Flood risk?

I've heard this can cause a massive slug problem but I'm not sure if it's urban legend or fact....

I think you should seek professional advice!

Keep well away.
We’re my mum lives are 3 terraced houses built at the same time as her flat. They are split level as the road is a slight hill. Kitchen on ground floor with bedroom 1, living room upstairs and bedroom 2 and bathroom downstairs.She almost bought the middle terrace but is very glad she didn’t !

It has sold multiple times over the last 30 years since it was built. Your talking every few years or so. Every owner has put in a new bathroom in due Smells, leaks. The drain about 20 foot from these 3 houses in the car park stinks, it’s been cleared out a few times but still stinks. The stairs at the end of the terrace leading to the car park have subsided.

After about 15 years it was discovered an underground stream lies directly under the middle terrace after the bathroom flooded and part of the brickwork fell out. The water got pumped out and the house got a damp proof course and the brickwork fixed. After 3 years that owner sold it and did not have to tell the next owner about the stream !
It’s changed hands a few times since then and the fixed bricks are bulging a bit and it’s just had another bathroom put in !

No one knew about the stream until the flood 15 years ago as it is not marked on any maps. So it also doesn’t show on any searches done by solicitors when it gets sold.

I'd give it a swerve personally.

Not quite the same but friends had a cellar which had flooded badly way back when and they discovered the water had been trapped ever since. They never could get the front room completely dry.

A stream could also 'rise' after the kind of rain we seem to be prone to now. Water has to go somewhere. Even if it's never caused problems in the past there's nothing to say it never will.

Yes to everything above. Take expert advice and get your insurance lined up (and watertight ) if you do proceed.

Be aware, that it is likely that you would own the stream, and be responsible for maintaining it and keepbig it flowing free of blockages. Might be worth checking out riparian responsibilities before you make any decisions.

Posted too soon - I am an expert in this field!