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Original poster

Problems seen at second viewing

30 replies

dibly · 07/11/2021 17:15

We recently viewed and fell in love with a 1930s detached, got our house ready to sell and have just accepted an offer. We have legal, mortgage advisors etc all lined up, but yesterday we viewed the house again and spotted some issues which we’re concerned about:

Sloping floors in kitchen from the outside towards the middle of the house, 4or 5 cracked floor tiles

Similarly sloping floors in upstairs bathroom (above the kitchen)

Guttering coming away from the wall at one outside corner

Roof has seen better days, suspect it’s the original roof

Roof of extension is flat with a small patch of standing water on it

Added to all this, the seller had carved up the garden, boundary in place and has planning permission to build a new house 4m from ours (1m to their boundary and then the 3m width of our driveway). Understand that we’d need a party wall agreement as protection for that.

Finally on speaking to a local neighbour they said that further down the road there used to be a pond which has since been built over.

It’s in an area with clay soil.

At the very least I think we need a structural engineer/survey, but cold feet are setting in.

How would you proceed? We have a cash buyer who wants to move fast but I feel like we need to stop any further legal work etc until we’re armed with more info from the structural survey. Any advice welcome!

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 07/11/2021 17:16

It's going to take quite a bit of work isn't it? How prepared are you for that?

Ragwort · 07/11/2021 17:18

The fact that the owner is planning to build another house so close would really put me off ...if you want the advantage of a detached house you don't want another property just one metre away .... and imagine what it would be like during the building process Shock.

I would start searching again.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 07/11/2021 17:20

I'd run

Original poster
dibly · 07/11/2021 17:20

We weren’t really, superficially all looked ok, well decorated etc if not all to our taste. But have mixed feelings since yesterday. I’m more risk averse than DH anyway who seems to be thinking this is here all wear and tear

OP posts:
A580Hojas · 07/11/2021 17:21

It would be a no from me. Just imagine the noise and disruption coming from a new build so close.

MintJulia · 07/11/2021 17:25

I'd get a structural survey done at least.

But I wouldn't want a new house built that close either.

TheGallopingGourmet · 07/11/2021 17:30

I would be running away

JustAnother30Something · 07/11/2021 17:39

Would you not be getting surveys done anyway? You don't say you are cash buyers, so if you have a mortgage - doesn't you provider require surveys?

RedCarsGoFaster · 07/11/2021 17:44

The planned construction work alone would piss me off enough not to touch it with a bargepole. If they are self builders, it could be years of pissing around, noise, deliveries, mud etc. I worked in construction for the last 6yrs and would never voluntarily live near a construction site!

filka · 07/11/2021 17:44

I'd run from this.Even if a survey was OK, digging a foundation for another house so close and in clay soil is asking for trouble in a few years time.

sunshinesupermum · 07/11/2021 17:47

No way would i carry on with purchase. When were you told about house being built so close to you?

Kite22 · 07/11/2021 17:55

Would you not be getting surveys done anyway? You don't say you are cash buyers, so if you have a mortgage - doesn't you provider require surveys?

There are different levels of surveys. The one for the mortgage is sometimes only a drive by. Even where they go in properties, they can be very much a 'surface look'. Very different from a full structural survey.

Original poster
dibly · 07/11/2021 17:57

Thanks for all input, yes we would need a survey anyway for the mortgage but would prefer a more comprehensive one in these circumstances.

OP posts:
BingBongToTheMoon · 07/11/2021 17:59

No. I’d not proceed.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 07/11/2021 18:11

I wouldn't bother with a survey because having the mess horror and then presence of a new build on top of me would be a deal breaker.
I would 100% walk away.

A580Hojas · 07/11/2021 18:11

So when were you told about the new build?

Original poster
dibly · 07/11/2021 18:30

We’d seen the plans for a new build but they’ve only just been approved

OP posts:
HavfrueDenizKisi · 07/11/2021 18:37

I'm pretty happy with most issues that come up on a survey - things can be fixed very easily, EXCEPT sloping floors. This is either an issue with the timber supports under the floors (dry rot or other stuff) or significant subsidence issues. The clay soil area means subsidence is more likely especially after dry hot periods (like a few summers back).

You'd absolutely need a full structural survey. I don't think you'd like the results though.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 07/11/2021 18:38

Plus also I'd pull out regarding the new build house.

EdgeOfTheSky · 07/11/2021 18:50

Thank god fir 2nd viewings, eh?

Original poster
dibly · 07/11/2021 19:16

Oh god, you’re confirming my fears. Thanks though I needed to hear this.

OP posts:
RacketeerRalph · 07/11/2021 19:31

I'd get a survey done and readjust my offer based on that. Nothing there seems awful to me, the sloping floor could be something or nothing, our flat roof has some standing water but doesn't leak at all.

The new build - 4 meters in which direction? I've lived in many houses where the was 1.1 meter side passages to each hide meang 2.2m between us, I don't see the issue.

BlueMongoose · 07/11/2021 20:30

1930s house, well, ours is 1920s (most of it). The roof will need new laths, underlay, and reslating at some point, as I expect yours would. Provided the basic timbers are sound, this isn't a big deal, just something to save up for, (and get costed before you buy if money may be tight for you) and what you'd expect in a house that age.

Guttering, normally easily sorted, not expensive, often a DIY job, but needs doing a.s.a.p.

Flat roof, well, you always have to budget to replace those about every 10 years, if you're lucky, a modern one may last a lot longer than that. Our flat roof section is a bit younger, we will do it when we do the slating. If the standing water is just a very thin layer, and there are no leaks, that's normal. Surveyor should check it out.

Sloping floors, you need a surveyor's opinion on that. I'd definitely want to know what was going on there. We had the most comprehensive of the RICS surveys on ours, I would recommend you did the same on a house that age, especially if you already have things of concern- ask them to look specifically at anything you are worried about, including those floors.

The new build next door- well, that's for you to decide whether you want the mess during the build and/or having it so close, a survey won't help you with that (though I'd tell your surveyor and ask for their comments in case there are any structural issues). 4m is a fair bit away if it is just to one side. I'm not sure why they'd need a party wall agreement for that, as it isn't on the boundary, but I'm sure your solicitors and surveyor would know all that stuff.

maofteens · 07/11/2021 21:17

The new house being built so close would put me off. Structural issues too - it's a no from me and I'm not risk adverse at all.

HyphenCobra · 08/11/2021 23:52

My mums neighbour took part of his garden to have a new build put on. Was really close to my mums house!!

The noise and upheaval was a nightmare. The builders constantly making a racket from 8am.

No way I'd be dealing with that.

Currently there's a new build development going on a fair bit down my road. I can often hear that when quiet in my house 🙄 couldn't imagine it right next door!!

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