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Original poster

Buyer pulled out after survey due to a crack

25 replies

bonnieb91 · 25/03/2021 12:34

Hello all,

Hoping somebody can put my mind at rest. Been told today our buyer has pulled out because the lender wanted a full structural engineers report.

The house is going back on the market but worried itll just come up again.

Going to get our own report done, but does this look worrying? i.imgur.com/YF4ipt0.jpeg

OP posts:
AcornAutumn · 25/03/2021 12:39

Do you mean a full structural survey? I'd think every buyer would want that.

Original poster
bonnieb91 · 25/03/2021 12:40

@AcornAutumn

Do you mean a full structural survey? I'd think every buyer would want that.
No they did a homebuyers which mentioned this crack, so the lender wants a structural engineers report - i guess to check its not subsidence
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Dogsandbabies · 25/03/2021 12:43

Are you sure that you are not in a high risk subsidence area? If the property I was buying was in a high subsidence risk area and came with cracks I would also pull out.

If I were you I would check your area and maybe get a surveyor to have a look.

custardbear · 25/03/2021 12:43

Personally I'd get ahead of it - get someone in to find out the problem and sort it, or at least have info about what the crack is and what's causing it

Didyousaysomethingdarling · 25/03/2021 12:43

@ Quotebonnieb91
I think you might want to change that link, it's got some other, possibly private stuff on view too.

candlemasbells · 25/03/2021 12:45

It has gone through the bricks rather than just along the joints so that's a worry. But it could be where a sewer pipe goes into the property and it wasn't properly bridged across the foundations. There are other not serious possibilities.
Structural surveys are not that expensive, £300-£500. Ive had them on houses rather than home buyers reports. A structural engineer will also give you solutions. You may have to dig down and expose the foundations but that's not difficult. Even if it has moved its still solvable. I think there are issues if you claim through your insurance for future mortgage lending so it may be better to just pay.

StillAliveish · 25/03/2021 12:47

As a buyer with no knowledge of structural "stuff" I'd be concerned. If my lender wasn't happy it would certainly give me pause for thought and cracking bricks doesn't feel like a good thing. I'd get your own structural engineer survey so at least you know what it is, but the buyer might want their own done too.

Gobbeldegook · 25/03/2021 13:07

I would be very concerned about that

Midlifephoenix · 25/03/2021 13:14

Structural surveys can be over £1000. Surprisingly most people don't get a survey, let alone a full structural.
Have they done a full structural survey or did they pull out when one was suggested? I'd get that crack checked out of i was you.

readytosell · 25/03/2021 13:16

If it's split through the bricks it's quite a big force, but it could be one of many things. Is there an equivalent crack internally?

lastqueenofscotland · 25/03/2021 13:27

I think homebuyers are often very over the top but I would be worried about that.

bakingdemon · 25/03/2021 13:29

Yeah, I'd want that looked at. Cracks in the internal plaster you expect in old houses, but right through a brick? More worrying. You should get a survey done so you have it to hand when buyers ask, or possibly consider getting it rectified yourselves before selling it.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 25/03/2021 13:30

I always get full structural surveys done as I like to buy old and listed houses, it is expensive, my last one was £800.
But worth every penny. Most cracks are just settling cracks not subsidence but I need to know. The last house I had a survey on looked perfect, no crack, no damp, I almost didn't bother. But I did in the end and it was a total disaster. I didn't buy the house as the end gable was about to fall off.

Dinosauraddict · 25/03/2021 13:34

Step cracks through bricks would worry me. I'm not a FTB and often buy old houses that need work.

idontlikealdi · 25/03/2021 13:35

That's a fairly substantial external crack, internal hairline wouldn't worry me but that would I'm afraid

Mochudubh · 25/03/2021 13:51

We had this happen when our buyer's lender slapped a full retention on our house for a similar crack. We had to pay for a surveyor's report which cost us about £500 but proved it was a just a "thermal" crack and the sale went ahead.

I think it's worth paying for the survey, at least then you know what you're dealing with and have it to show future interested buyers.

Original poster
bonnieb91 · 25/03/2021 14:13

@readytosell

If it's split through the bricks it's quite a big force, but it could be one of many things. Is there an equivalent crack internally?
Theres no internal cracks no.

Going to get somebody to come out and have a look at it. Pretty worried tho we are going to end up stuck in this house now

OP posts:
zzzebra · 25/03/2021 14:22

The fact it's split through a brick is worrying.

It's probably nothing but I'd get it looked at as it's likely to come up in future surveys too.

DianeCherry · 25/03/2021 14:28

Just get a full structural survey done. If you need work then you have buildings insurance, right? You don't need to be stuck. Just get in control of the situation.

LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee · 25/03/2021 14:52

@Didyousaysomethingdarling

@ Quotebonnieb91 I think you might want to change that link, it's got some other, possibly private stuff on view too.
@bonnieb91 not sure you saw this
Chumleymouse · 25/03/2021 14:56

Does the crack go all the way up the house from top to bottom , or is it just the bit in the picture ?

Original poster
bonnieb91 · 25/03/2021 14:58

@Chumleymouse

Does the crack go all the way up the house from top to bottom , or is it just the bit in the picture ?
Just the bit in the picture, under the kitchen window and stops just below the outside tap.
OP posts:
Original poster
bonnieb91 · 25/03/2021 14:59

@Didyousaysomethingdarling

@ Quotebonnieb91 I think you might want to change that link, it's got some other, possibly private stuff on view too.
I dont have an account on there, just uploaded an image so cant see how but thanks
OP posts:
Chumleymouse · 25/03/2021 15:19

If it’s just those courses affected and no cracks on the inside then the house is not moving , not sure why such a small area is affected though. If you can find 3 bricks to match , the broken ones could be chopped out and replaced and the area reprinted . It’s a days labour tops , not even that.

That’s what I would do . Lots of houses have patches of brick work replaced over the years for different reasons.

Original poster
bonnieb91 · 25/03/2021 15:45

@Chumleymouse

If it’s just those courses affected and no cracks on the inside then the house is not moving , not sure why such a small area is affected though. If you can find 3 bricks to match , the broken ones could be chopped out and replaced and the area reprinted . It’s a days labour tops , not even that.

That’s what I would do . Lots of houses have patches of brick work replaced over the years for different reasons.

Yeah sounds worth doing thank you
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