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Original poster

Our house is unmortgageable. I want to cry!

205 replies

Holls81 · 19/07/2023 07:04

Just wondering if anyone else has had this, especially recently.

In the past we’ve owned 2 properties built in the late 1800 and never had a problem getting a mortgage for either.

our current home was built in 1890.

we had no problem getting a mortgage on this either- in fact we just fixed again with the mortgage lender we’ve had for the last 5 years.
we recently applied for £10k on our mortgage to do some home improvements (re rendering etc which should add value) but it was declined. Not on the grounds that we couldn’t afford it, but on the grounds that the surveyor deemed our property as unmortgageable due to the original part of the house being single skin.

I had no idea that this would be an issue I spoke to the lender and they said it’s a blanket rule across all properties which are single skin (ie. Pre cavity wall - 1930’s builds.)

im now worried that we’ll never be able to sell our house as no one will ever be able
to get a mortgage on it, plus we’re paying a lot of money each month for a house that may never be worth anything now.

I feel sick!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
TizerorFizz · 22/07/2023 16:12

The OP says there was a mortgage surveyor @schloss

So it’s their opinion. However engaging a structural engineer will give more detail. Plus look at rectifying any issues if necessary.

Original poster
Holls81 · 23/07/2023 21:06

schloss · 22/07/2023 15:52

Even if you did not have a survey done when you purchased the property there would have been a mortgage evaluation done which you should have a copy of, sometimes they have very basic information on, such as construction type.

Before you spend any money on surveyors or structural engineers, ask the existing mortgage company for proof the property is single skinned - from the information you have provided, I do not know how they can say it is single skinned, they have not visited and the house is rendered. Yes there are ways of looking a window reveal depths etc, but for a motgage company to state something they have to prove it. So the easiest first step is to ask them for the proof. It may be the original valuation when your purchased the house, did state parts of the house were single skinned, if it did you should have a copy and it gives you something to question what has changed.

If your neighbours have similar properties and you have good relationships with them, I would be tempted to ask if any of them has a copy of a survey.

In the nicest way, you seem to have accepted the information given to you about single skinned with no proof.

@schloss
i get on really well with my neighbour who joins on to me (we are semi detached and her house mirrors ours)
I explained the situation to her. She took me upstairs in her house and the wall situ in hers is seemingly the same but she’s never had any problems. Structural engineer is the next step

OP posts:
BlueMongoose · 24/07/2023 20:13

Did you check what your own survey on the house when you bought it said about the brickwork? If that didn't identify the problem, you may have a case against that surveyor. As I said, I know of someone who brought such a case and won.

mycoffeecup · 08/09/2023 20:48

@Holls81 presumably you did a full structural survey when you bought the house? if that didn't pick it up, you may have a claim against the surveyor.

mycoffeecup · 08/09/2023 20:49

oops, didn't realise the person before me said exactly the same thing!

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