Neighbour maybe doesn't realise house is concrete WWYD?

[lineylines]

My neighbour has put their house on the market. It's a normal ad.

However, their house is concrete construction. Definitely - not only is ours, and the houses look the same, but theirs in a semi and the one next door (that it's atttached to - effectively the other side of the same house) sold last year, and the ad clearly said "cash buyers only as concrete construction".

The price they're asking is normal for a standard construction house round here, but they're not going to get nearly that for a conrete house. The one next door sold for £75K less than they're asking.

I'm trying to work out whether I should say something to them.

If they already know it's concrete I guess it's none of my business really. It's very unlikely a buyer won't find out as the houses on this road are flagged as "possibly concrete construction" and it will be hard to get a mortage. Unless someone buys cash, I guess?

But if they don't know, then it's going to be a nasty shock - they may find out once they've offered on a new place and then their buyer's mortgage falls through when the lender finds out it's concrete.

Lots of people here don't realise about the concrete I think as this is an ex council estate and some of the houses were bought ages ago and passed down families.

I don't know them well, they keep themselves to themselves.

Should I say something to be neighbourly? Or stay out of it? WWYD?

We're not in Cornwall and it's not totally obvious they're concrete unless you know what you're looking for. This estate has a mix of brick and conrete houses, and even the concrete construction ones have some brick. If you go up in my attic, you'll see a brick wall in the side where the chimney is. DP thought for ages this meant my suspiscions it was concrete were wrong.

What type of non standard construction? I have extensive knowledge of this.

Recently in my area ‘orlit’ houses were wrongly being sold as non defective ‘hills houses’. They are a lot of different types of concrete construction and even in the same area standards can vary and each Individual property will need testing .

Do you know your neighbours well enough to pass the time of day with them?
If so, you could ask how the sale is going next time you see them, and muse that it can be a problem selling 'concrete houses like ours', what with mortgage companies not liking them, but you hope it goes really well. They can ignore you if they want, but it might be enough to start a discussion with the agent and they will be somewhat prepared for any problems.

Yes, but I'm going to hazard a guess it wasn't £75k overpriced?

I'd love to get your opinion but I have no idea what they're called!

1930s semi-detatched council houses is the best I can do!

Yes, we do say hi to each other, but usually from across the road - I haven't had a converstion with them for ages. But maybe this is the best way to go - just take an opportunity if one arises. (And not worry too much if it doesn't).

This is nothing to do with you. Stay out of it

I’ve just sold my concrete block house with concrete slab/steel floors. I never had any issues with insurance. Most people don’t even know about the construction until they come to rewire. You definitely couldn’t tell by just walking around during a homeowner’s report.

Not your circus, not your monkeys.

I find this an odd question! I've already said, if they don't know, it'll be a nasty shock if they find out late on in their sale.

I have a concrete house myself and I would appreciate someone telling me upfront rather than me thinking I had a sale going through and possibly having offered on a new property myself only to have the whole thing go tits up.

It's about being neighbourly. Are you familiar with the concept?

My sister and BIL bought a concrete house that’s had remedial work. No issues with mortgage. They will know. They don’t need your helpful advice. It’s quite patronising that you think they would be totally unaware (and that the agent also wouldn’t have realised) just because it’s been omitted from the Rightmove ad.

People put their houses up for sale as overpriced all the time. Leave it alone - you don't know what conversations they have had with the estate agent.
And you don't know what will happen.

Halifax will lend on houses that are "non standard construction".
We bought ours 27 years ago and have just sold it. They sometimes check the metal frame by drilling into the walls.

Wow, some people really have a chip on their shoulders!

I don't think they don't know. I think MAYBE they don't know.

I know at least 2 people who have bought houses here who didn't know - I'm one of them - and I suspect there others who don't know as they inherited instead of buying.

It's not patronising in the least IMO! It's a very real possibility.

That's useful info for when I come to sell, thanks :)

You could phone the estate agents and check they are aware, I suppose?

I couldn't give a flying fuck about some randoms house purchase/sale that has nothing to do with me
..why would I care more because said random lives close to me?

I would leave it. In the end, if they get a better price for it then it only serves to benefit you as the overall house value/sold prices on the street will go up. It's a win win as far as I am concerned. Houses are sold as seen, let the buyer take the risk.

Some lenders will lend on non-standard constructions (with higher interest rates to reflect potential resale issues). Or they might get a cash buyer.

Attend to your own business and let them crack on.

That's what I would do too.

There are a lot of types it can be very confusing ! Some of these properties even within their type have huge variation as often when they were built depending on materials available there may have been a bit of ‘mix and match’ going on!

The majority of mortgage lenders will not lend on this type of house unless you have a structural repair and PRC certificate - you could maybe chat to them and get into the conversation about it and ask who they got to do their repair and see what they say. I agree with you that it should be marketed correctly as a potential buyer needs to be aware. The majority of these houses are cash buyers only .

Definitely not!

I'd much rather have a straighforward conversation with my neighbour than go meddling in their affairs behind their back!

I'm thinking of what I'd like someone to if I was the seller and this definitely isn't it!

Maybe it’s had remedial work done on it, which means it’s now mortgageable like other properties ?
Both sides of a semi don’t have to get the work done together.
Some semi detached council houses round here have had external insulation added but the other half of the semi is owned and hasn’t. One half now sticks out further than the other.

They've not done any major structual repairs.

From what I understand, in order to "fix" these kinds of houses you basically need to build another layer of brick wall in addition to the concrete?

Not something you could do without it being very obvious?

My god just leave it. Anyone who offers on it will need a survey to get a mortgage and then they will find out the nature of the construction. You literally have no idea about what they know and don’t know. Just because you bought without a survey doesn’t mean others will so just back off.