Would you buy a house that has been underpinned

[TulipsfromAmsterdam]

We are thinking of viewing a house which I believe had subsidence many years ago. We haven't checked with the estate agent yet but local knowledge is that it has been underpinned. Is this a risky purchase or once work was done should it be okay for insurance etc

Our house was underpinned about 27 years ago. We bought it 18 years ago. Insurance was only tricky in that we had to have the same firm that were covering it at the time. Now it’s past 25 years we can have who we want. I always say this when this topic comes up, I live in a clay area so it’s “when” not “if”. So would rather buy after work is done.

Nope. Insurance can be a nightmare.

No, insurance can be difficult and it puts off future buyers.

Once a house is underpinned it should be OK if the initial issue is sorted (drains, tree roots etc)

Be aware that not all lenders will lend on a house that's been underpinned.

We bought our house that was underpinned, had all the certificates etc and the issue shouldn’t happen again, had a survey etc all fine. Insurance we just used the same insurance agency. We put our house on the market and selling it now just as we want a bigger garden. I would find out the reason the house was underpinned and do your own research!

When was it underpinned? One corner of our house was underpinned in the 60s so there’s no paperwork but insurers etc don’t care as it was so long ago.

No.

there are specific specialist insurance companies so it’s a lot easier to get insurance for previous underpinning. Go see the house and ask the vendor about it - it wouldn’t put me off as the problem has been sorted.

Thanks for all the replies. We will tread carefully should we decide to go forward.

My first house was underpinned in one corner, it was ex council and mining land. Hadn't moved in 25/28 years. Paperwork from council. Insurance was semi annoying but only because I couldn't use a compare site and had to call/send over paperwork. Insurance didn't actually turn out to be any more expensive than what my friend in the same style house on the same road had paid and there house wasn't underpinned. It wouldn't put be off tbh if the paperwork was there. Get a structural survey done, this can help with lowering the insurance.

Ours is underpinned (as is pretty much every other house on our road due to clay soil in the area) this was About 25 years ago. When we bought (about 15 years ago) mortgage was fine and the seller had to produce paperwork.
Insurance also not a problem.