I have a large grade 2 listed house that has been rented to a lovely family for nearly 5 years. They left about a month ago and I’ve been to the house regularly since as we’re redocorating to sell rather than let again. When I stayed there a few days ago I noticed in the top bedroom the ceiling (which has always been a bit uneven in places) has a lot of sudden new cracks in the plaster, there are some new diagonal cracks in the ceiling plaster in two rooms and one connecting wall and things to me just look different. Some of the skirting boards have gaps between them and the floors which I haven’t noticed before. The outside looks fine though, no cracks but the supporting wall at the bottom of the garden is leaning outward as if being pushed. I haven’t noticed this before as the garden is at the back and I have always entered the front and just gone in the garden but not outside the back wall. I feel that something structural has happened but my husband says I’m being neurotic.
My other big concern is that my landlord insurance is now cancelled as my tenants have left and I’ve just taken on new insurance with a different company (one week ago) My house is nearly 200 years old and a previous survey 10 years ago when I bought the house mentioned historical ‘movement’ but nothing ongoing.
I’m massively worried as firstly I think I have very much undervalued my house ‘rebuild cost’ for my landlord insurance and also didn’t mention to them the history of movement as it was historic and I didn’t think was relevant.
I don’t know whether to contact my new insurer or just wait and see what happens or try to get an independent assessor out? I can’t sleep with all the worry about what might be going on, whether I’m properly insured and whether we’ll ever sell the house now. I’ve put my life savings into this house...
I’m very grateful for any advice! Thank you