Is this property a no-go?

[whatafineday]

So I just visited this house. Quite like it. But am worried about the black outside the external wall. Does it look like just a gutter blockage with water dripping down (which will be inexpensive to fix) or something more serious? Didn't notice any water leak or damp inside....well all walls have just been repainted.

The house was built around 1940s. Will for sure instruct a level 3 survey if our offer gets accepted. But wanted to see if we should put in an offer at all.

Thank you!

That house looks Edwardian. Check out next door's door and the tiled path.

Does look like a damp issue in the corner, but could be something simple like a blocked gutter. Also, it doesn't look like a 1949 house - more like 1900

Agreed on the age of the house - it's remarkably similar to ours (SW London) - and it's a 1900 build.

I echo the above, it's worth investigating whether it's 'damp' or a fixable leak.

Yes I’d say likelihood is a blocked gutter, my brother had a similar problem on his Victorian house. Wasn’t really apparent until you had a big downpour and the guttering got overwhelmed, causing water to drip down the front.

It is indeed in SW London!

The agent gave the age. Am starting to doubt his professional knowledge....anything i need to pay attention to to construction of this era? Will call for a second viewing.

It looks like solid wall, no cavity.
So you do want to fix that damp.
Difficult to say, but it’s probably a lead roof there that may need replacing, or the gutter above is leaking. Maybe have a gander out of the upstairs window if possible, or get the step ladders out.
It would not be a deal breaker in my opinion.

yep I'd wonder about the damn agent - I know nowt about architecture but recognise the approx date from the pic of the front plus the tiling. A fair few like that round parts of Dulwich SE London I think.
Even if he had been told that date by someone he should have queried it.
Don't buy a car through him.

I knew it was SW London! Definitely looks late Victorian/Edwardian. Unless it was war bomb damage and rebuilt very authentically, but that would be very unusual, usually you get a row of obviously 50s/60s when that has happened. I suspect agent is talking nonsense. It’s probably just a blocked gutter but the surveyor should be able to look at it properly, and no house of that age is ever going to have flawless survey. I also imagine the house costs a fair sum of money so the cost to fix whatever it is won’t be overly significant by comparison.

Before you go on your second viewing buy an inexpensive damp meter off Amazon. Hold it to that wall and it will tell you how much moisture is in the wall.

wish i had the money for the whole house. am looking at a flat there. judging from the neglect and seemingly easy fix, the other freeholder could be very difficult.....

thats right! thank you!