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Signs of movement (pics inc) on the house we offered on

5 replies

moveblues · 24/10/2021 17:05

Hi all
We offered on a 20's house and went back this weekend for a second viewing. Took these pics.
It's had some movement previously and was repaired around 20 years ago prior to current vendor owning it. He's owned it since 2002 ish and it's not underpinned.
You can clearly see there's been some movement eg the bricks under the lower window and lintel above window. Uneven mortar lines above window also.
Would this raise concerns for you?

Signs of movement (pics inc) on the house we offered on
Signs of movement (pics inc) on the house we offered on
Signs of movement (pics inc) on the house we offered on
OP posts:
Claphands · 24/10/2021 17:09

It looks to me that the windows were put in badly, the one by the door looks as though someone has made the original door wider to put in a side window but not done it properly.

I’m no expert though but could you pay a builder to have a look prior to offering and then having a survey?

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 24/10/2021 17:16

That's what a full structural survey is for. It might hurt to pay for it but really it is a tiny fraction of what you'll pay for a house and very much worth it.

Elieza · 24/10/2021 17:19

I’m no expert either but in the middle picture are we looking at the lower window?

Above that window it looks like the bricks have bowed on top of the window, like the lintel wasn’t strong enough? And below it they look squint but I don’t see a crack or anything. Just squint windows.

Perhaps I’m not seeing the probs and need em spelled out for me?!

FurierTransform · 24/10/2021 20:44

I wouldn't be particularly concerned - looks like very old movement, probably from when the window was replaced (I think old wooden windows were sometimes load bearing)

CointreauVersial · 24/10/2021 21:54

It looks like badly replaced windows to me too (but also no expert!).
We have a 1930s house - back in the 1980s the windows were replaced, but they didn't bother to add lintels (new windows not designed to support brick courses above, unlike original load bearing windows). So we started to get sagging above the windows.
It was surprisingly inexpensive to fix - builder was able to insert some "catnic" lintels from the outside (although we needed to do some replastering in a couple of rooms).
A survey will be able to identify this.

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