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?

2 of my children bought concrete/ non- standard construction houses, but they were advertised as such. In our area the construction is OK and they had no issues, but I knowit varies.
If you run in to them just mention you are thinking of moving yourself in the near future. Then you can ask how they are finding the selling process, as you have been worried you may hit problems because the houses are concrete. Has the estate agent suggested they may find it harder to sell etc. It the comes up as a natural conversation and you have raised the issue in a fairly casual way.

We have a small ex council estate made of concrete houses…..they are in a great location and are not overlooked at front with great views….many have been bought then had brick built round them…..none are mortgageable …. All are cash buyers only…..none go for market value of other homes in the area …..they are lovely large 3beds with big gardens

Great suggested approach @SwayzeM !

Thanks @Hatsoffto

I find this strange. Maybe my house /road doesn't have issues

Many houses sell quickly due to near a very good school and all got a mortgage

As mums in same class /school ans mention % rates before anyone asks how I know

So the reason you know it's £75k overpriced is that you're keeping an eye on the market because you're hoping to sell yours, correct?

Couldn't you approach them, say you want to pick their brains about selling, since you're planning do the same within the next few years. Say you've been worried because yours is the same concrete construction as theirs, and have they had any advice about it from the estate agents.

Which basically is why you're interested, so wouldn't even be untruthful.

Only in the UK does it cause damp? As it doesn't happen in the US. Well insulated and conditioned homes are best.

It's not something you can hide - it will be already known or discovered, so there's nothing to be achieved by saying anything.

My house is under offer. My neighbour has just lister theres for 70k more than mine

It's the same house

Shall i knock on the door and tell them they're dreaming?

No! If course because it's not my business

The UK has a notoriously damp/humid environment.

I viewed a concrete house years ago. It wasn't mentioned on the listing, but the EA told me at the viewing though once he mentioned it I could tell anyway. I was a cash buyer but the clincher for me was the inability to extend or do much building type work at all. I think it was one of those Cornish Units mentioned above, looked like that, though not anywhere near Cornwall!

It also had a huge tree two meters from the driveway but door which was turfing up all the front garden. So, on balance, it was a no for me. I'm not sure how the price compared because I didn't know the area.

People are nuts! Why would you want to interfere? Why do you care? You aren’t the estate agent police😂.

The U.K. is very damp. The humidity is very high. Where I am right now is 91%. Dallas is 41%, Boston is 41%, San Francisco is 60%.

You can’t say that it’s the concrete that causes the damp. It’s the damp that causes the damp.

@Tangofantan

Raac concrete is a problem as it only meant to have 30 yr lifespan.one estate in Aberdeen has 500 homes that have to be demolished,138 are privately owned and those owners are having a terrible time of it.

Yes, I feel like my house is a hot potato and I need to sell it before it becomes impossible.

I'm not in a position to do that just now though, it all feels a bit precarious tbh.

This is a good approach, thanks :)

If I bump into them and get a chance, I'll say this.

Not about policing, about treating others how you want to be treated yourself. Being neighbourly. Have a look up thread if you really want to know, this has been done to death.

"The damp causes the damp". Indeed 😁

Although, sometimes the badly-installed insulation, a lack of proper ventilation and the condensation also cause the damp. (Is that worse in colder climates? I imagine so?)

Oh god, now it’s made of hot potatoes. DON’T tell your neighbour that. No one should ever speak to their neighbours and if you see their house for sale on Rightmove, change your name and leave the country rather than acknowledge the situation.

Well said. I live in a country where houses are built of all sorts, many of them wood, and don't get this UK notion their way of building houses is the only way. I lived in a 1930s concrete house which stood up to the test of time well, until a big earthquake. However, it was just luck (or unluck!) as there are several similar houses in the neighbourhood which still have decades of life left in them.

Maybe I'm a bit thick but I really can't understand how someone doesn't know what their house is made of

Im sorry OP, I know your hearts in the right place but can't see any scenario here where you wouldn't come accross as a busy body/creating the impression that you think the sellers are trying to pull the wool over someone's eyes. Is there a legal obligation to ensure that the particulars of sale include detail on the concrete construction? If not, then it's up to the surveyors to identify this. As I've said in previous post, if this property sells for 75k more then this only helps you if you come to sell.

The damp and humidity cause damp outside. Poorly constructed houses (no ventilation, non breathable material, poor heating etc) create damp inside.

I live in the UK. My house is not damp. The bathroom gets a bit steamy at times. But it's also, importantly for this conversation, not concrete.

I keep a humidity monitor in the house, it's usually around 50%. Despite the UK being very damp and humid.

My house isn’t concrete or damp either. My point is that there are more factors at play in damp in houses than simply what a building is made of

Well, your point is a non sequitur, because no-one said it was the only factor.