How to find out if a house has been underpinned

[huntinghighandlow]

We've got our survey back on a Victorian semi we're buying and it's mostly fine, except because the bricks are newish, it's saying it's a sign the house could have been underpinned. He asked the vendor who said she had no idea (she bought the house 5 years ago) There's no evidence of movement in the brickwork or inside the property. The surveyor said it's very hard to tell if a property has been underpinned and our solicitor should look into it.

Would there be a record of this somewhere? The underpinning isn't really a problem it's applying for buildings insurance. If nothing is found what would we say on the insurance form when it asks if the house has been underpinned? There isn't an option for don't know!

If the vendor declares through the solicitor that to her knowledge the property hasn't been underpinned would that be enough? As it's recorded on the survey we are now aware it's a possibility. DP is very keen on pulling out of the sale !

Our house has been underpinned: the insurance co that paid for the underpinning are obliged to continue to provide ongoing buildings insurance, I think.

The surveyor who looked at our house said that any 1920s semi on London clay should be underpinned and is all the better for it!

Surely underpinning is a good thing because it means it has proper foundations now? Our 20s semi hasn't been underpinned and it doesn't move much and it's on a very sticky layer of London clay. The new extension had to go a metre down.

Sorry forgot to answer the actual question, you just dig down next to a wall and see if there's concrete under the footings

It's worth noting that if the underpinning was the result of an insurance claim it will be known to other insurance companies as there is a claims database.

Our vendors failed to declare a subsidence claim (we have considered suing them but aren't because the sum involved is small) and when we arranged buildings insurance the new insurer queried it. We ended up having to get cover through a broker.

Underpinning is a good thing, but people freak out about it.

If it has been done properly it protects against further movement so will be a much better buy than the non-underpinned house next door on the same soil.

Underpinning may be a good thing, but insurers penalise you for it. We had underpinning for a one off leak 25 years ago before we moved in and there are still companies that won't insure us or will only ensure when you call them up to explain the circumstances. It doesn't cost that much more to ensure but is inconvenient - you'd probably want to use a broker

Our house has historical subsidence, I think it was underpinned in the 80's. Insurance has been fine to get and not expensive, just have to use a broker instead of going on comparison websites.

We nearly bought a house where the vendor didn't disclose subsidence. I happened upon the information by googling the address! He was a knob in many ways though.

Sorry for the delay in replying! I contacted the building dept for the council as suggested, and they replied 'no notifiable works have been done at this property' Hopefully that'd be enough for insurance application ?

Subsidence occurs when the ground dries out in times of drought or lack of rain. Therefore the ground shrinks and insubstantial foundations fail and let the house subside. The foundations are then usually shored up by a concrete raft which means subsidence is unlikely to happen again in that location.

When there is a water leak and there is too much water in the ground around insubstantial foundations, the ground expands. This pushes the walls up and outwards and it’s called heave.