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Any structural engineers willing to have a look at 3 photos to allay or confirm my concerns?!

5 replies

BigWhiteRabbit · 17/07/2025 11:50

Hello, we've had a full survey undertaken on a London Victorian terrace. The property needs some love, which we are fine with. But, there a lot of cracks that bother me. I have grilled the surveyor who reassures me that he sees these all the time and that they are typical of London properties of this age. However, I need more convincing before we mortgage ourselves up to the hilt. Throughout the survey it says things like 'floors are sloping in multiple directions' (though not springiness). The external of the property is covered in render and so it's not possible to see the state of the brickwork and it has recently been re-rendered to make it look good for sale presumably.

Here are the photos - please also advise if there is another type of professional we could call into the property pre purchase to give a more concrete level of reassurance (no pun intended!) I understand a structural engineer would need to dig and remove plaster which obviously we can't do. The first two photos show exterior and corresponding interior. There are also photos of an uneven door frame to the room. I don't want to share too much as it's not my property and doesn't feel right. There are other hairline style cracks everywhere, it's these ones that particularly bother me.
Thanks in advance.

Any structural engineers willing to have a look at 3 photos to allay or confirm my concerns?!
Any structural engineers willing to have a look at 3 photos to allay or confirm my concerns?!
Any structural engineers willing to have a look at 3 photos to allay or confirm my concerns?!
OP posts:
CurlyKoalie · 17/07/2025 13:06

I'm not a structural engineer, but looking at the photo showing the exterior render, if the external render has been recently applied and that has cracked, this would suggest recent movement and personally this would be a massive red flag.

housethatbuiltme · 17/07/2025 13:07

They do look like superficial plaster/render cracks probably from expansion contraction related to heat changes.

Most old houses have cracks like this, ours has loads.

MagpiePi · 17/07/2025 13:15

I wouldn't be concerned if the survey didn't raise anything serious. The ground naturally expands and contracts with varying water levels and unless the house has exceptionally deep foundations it will move with the ground.

My house has loads of cracks which keep appearing, wonky door frames and sloping floors. I got a survey done which said that it was due to normal differential settlement.

Get yourself familiar with the use of polyfilla and be prepared to plane off doors and windows when they start to stick.

MH0084 · 17/07/2025 16:32

My centenarian maisonette has loads of cracks like that. It has some subsidence in the past but the property is stable for now.

kirinm · 13/08/2025 09:56

Pay for a structural survey. It’ll cost £400 if that. Rather waste £400 than trust some (well meaning) randoms on an internet forum!

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