Property with current subsistence

[User112]

We saw a lovely property however, there is a huge crack on a wall caused by a tree. Insurance claim is going through, but the tree may not be removed because of a TPO :(
I’m not sure what to do, DH says no, but I really like the place.
If the house is properly underpinned, can the tree still cause more issues later? Do insurers do partial underpinning?

DH is concerned the current insurers will just put a plaster on it and wash their hands off. When we buy, our new insurer won’t cover future problems caused by the tree because we bought the house knowing the tree won’t be removed.

Is it a NO then?

SUBSIDENCE!! Not subsistence! Apologies !!

That would be a definite NOPE! for me.

and a huge no from me. I would worry about what happen in the future and how I would sell the property on.

If all of the work had already been done and the tree dealt with it would be different. But as you say this is all current work to be sorted out.

Without any doubt it would be a no from me.

Though I have to be fair and say I sold my late parents home with similar problems. The buyer was prepared to sort it out due to the view but we did sell for significantly less than property had been valued at.

You are buying a house that will always have an insurance problem.
so the sale value needs to take account of the resale value.

You would also have to get the documentation proving the remedial work was done to a good standard and that the professional liability for the certification transferred to you.
If the cert is issued without the profession's insurance policy to back it up it has no economic value.

We are buying a house that had a structural issue (not the same kind as you describe). As detailed above, now the remedial work has been done by the current owners, guarantees are being checked by our solicitor and transferred to us.

It would not be a total no for me, but I would definitely want to understand more about how the tree may or may not affect things going forward (sometimes removing them can cause more problems than leaving the put and managing them).

No no no no no.

Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

No way. The only good way forward for that property is to be professionally underpinned and signed off by Building control and a certificate issued.

The only way I would consider it is if the price was what the plot was worth with or without the current dwelling and I wanted to build a new dwelling.

If it wound be possible to move the tree absolutely not. I don’t think it would be mortgagable either.

Many many houses are successfully mortgaged, insured and bought and sold following work to address structural movement.

IF the cause has been identified and dealt with, IF the necessary work has been done to stabilise the house / repair the cracks, whatever work was necessary, and if all paid for by the insurers and the ensuing paperwork is in place, there is rarely anything to worry about.

But this is still 'in progress'.

Your mortgage co won't give you a mortgage on it until the work has been done and approved.

It could take ages to get the problem fully dealt with, especially as the obvious solution, remove the tree, seems to be a no-no. If underpinning is needed it could take months from now.

You could wait, and wait and see what happens. Have you got a buyer waiting on your current house?

Underpinned houses are often a better bet than non-underpinned, especially on London clay. Once an insurance co has paid for the work, they will continue to insure it. I have bought and sold properly managed underpinned houses with no difficulty.

But not mid diagnosis and remedial work!

I'm surprised they're marketing it like a normal house with work like that 'in progress' - it's going to hit their price massively. Maybe 30%+.
Probably only worth looking at if you're knowledgeable.