40% urgent repair structure survey

[Swallow34]

Out of 80 checkpoints, 33 need urgent investigation/ repair, 14 need maintenance but not urgent yet. That means about 60% need to have some actions now or later.

Is this normal for a 1890 built, now converted flat ? (I'm FTB)

Major concern :

1. The building surveyor estimate £14k for urgent repair (for the work itself, not including labour , VAT ...etc)

1. Surveyor strongly suggest further investigation by a structural engineer and drainage survey, points including but not limited to :

a ) Found obvious drainage / leaking faults which may link to the wall structure crack, then indicate the movement may be ongoing. assuming underpinning work needed b) Chimney breast being removed, if no regulation approval and upper flat still keep the fireplace, it needs works for supporting the remaining marsony. c) Damages of the chimney & pitched roof, which also related to point b) d) interior wall crack that may caused by latest extension

I understand 100 years old houses need certain maintenance as I am also currently renting one.
However, I'm not expecting this amount of repairing scale and cost...

I offered 25k above asking price as bidding results, the price per SQM also more expensive than average in that area as I thought I'll move in without much urgent repair to fix. Now need to decide to walk away or invest more money to do further investigation...

Would be great to hear some feedback, thank you.

I would walk away

I would too

considering the economy & the fact you offered over I would walk away.

I live in an apartment in a converted 1800 house. Any issues like cracks in brickwork and roof repairs are paid for from the service charge we all pay, or from the house insurance. We're having some underpinning done at the moment due to collapsed drainage and it's being done as an insurance claim. The owner of the affected apartment isn't paying for it. Perhaps check out the situation with the lease and find out if there's a management company or if the residents are their own management company.

Oh god no. I lived in a flat which had structural problems and it took actual years to get everyone to agree and sort it out. Everything essentially unsellable during that time. Was ok for us, because we didn't need to move, but an absolute horror show for others.

Even for a period property that’s a long expensive list. if it potentially needs underpinning work it is likely Unmortgageable too

Run twenty million miles.

Underpinning issues are bad enough in houses never mind flats.

@Duracellbunnywannabe @beddygu @MoonOnaStick69
Thank you for super prompt response:)
The interior was rather new(based on 2 viewings) so I offered good price hoping no trouble at least 1-2 years (maintenance is fine)
It turns out that the problems mainly are exterior. Like @Magdalena543 mentioned, it will depends on freeholder/leasehold policy. (Thank you for sharing details regarding insurance!)

So, knowing I'll need to negotiate with a new neighbor soon after move in...very stressful :((( definitely can imagine the drama
@Wilfulchaos mentioned. The example you shared shows how EA being over optimistic about it (I know they just want the sales done^^)

@WhatAWasteOfOranges
Glad to know I'm not the only one thinking the repair list is too long. Some says it's not uncommon because of the age, but I do think there is a big difference between old - good condition v.s. old -lack of maintenance.

@MissWired This is the part EA wants me to invest further, EA said usually it's not so serious and surveyor always listing the worst scenario. I understand that , but surely if there is no sign of it or obvious minor, surveyor will mark it differently (!?)
Investing another £1000+ for engineer report + drainage survey...etc, the cost allows me to do survey for another 2 properties lol