Structual crack above door?

[Miley89]

This diagonal crack is above an internal door and goes into the ceiling
It's an old house that's been converted into 2 flats, we're the top flat there is an attic above

I'm told it's lath and plaster however even the landlord has no idea what it is and he isn't interested in fixing the crack at all!

I've read that cracks above doors can be down to structual problems or a roof issue

I'm truly terrified and have no idea how concerned I should be :/

As someone who owned an Edwardian house where there were cracks like this above most of the internal doors and a noticeable slope on internal door lintels and floors, I wouldn’t be bothered. In my house it was caused by differential settlement which happens when the ground naturally swells and shrinks as the moisture content changes, plus different parts of the house had different depth foundations so were affected by different amounts. I did get a structural survey done prior to putting it on the market so that I could reassure prospective buyers it wasn’t subsidence or anything serious.

Plaster on walls is a rigid material so won’t flex with the movement of the house hence the cracks. You can put in metal mesh under the plaster to try and stop the cracks, or go round with polyfilla every so often which is a much cheaper option.

I'm in a private rented so it's difficult to get any repairs done :(

I have a little child and I'm terrified that this crack is structual and the ceiling or floors will suddenly collapse :(

Why do you only read the articles that tell you about structural problems? Why not read articles that point out little cracks aren't structural problems but most likely owing to normal house movements or settlement?

Op this is your third post about the same thing and you haven't answered anyone's questions.

If you're that worried then insist your landlord comes to inspect it.

Many people have said it doesn't look structural and it certainly doesn't look as if the ceiling is going to spontaneously cave in.

Kindly, there's nothing to be 'terrified' about

Why are you terrified? It’s a fairly small crack in an old wall. Of course the ceiling isn’t suddenly going to collapse! 🤣🤣

Who peeled back the wallpaper, if you're that worried then get the structural surveyor back and insist your landlord takes another look.

I'm scared because of where the crack is located I've read that could be strucutal problem

Yes of course it could be a structural problem, but that doesn’t mean part of the house will fall down! It’s only a small crack! Just fill it and paper over it.

Is it a load bearing wall? Is there any damage on the external walls? Take some of the plaster off and see if the brickwork is damaged. It doesn't really look like serious damage, structures are designed to move a bit and it looks like a fairly old house so it is unlikely to suddenly fall down now. Are you over old mine workings or anything that would make you think the structure might be in danger?

Get a surveyor in to look at it if you are that worried, or just fill the cracks.

You have loads of close up pictures but none actually showing the cracks in relation to the doorway, which would be helpful.

You’ve read it might be structural. Now you’ve read it might not be. Why are you choosing to believe the worst option?

Kindly OP, if you Google things looking for problems to worry about then you will find them.

Those who don't really know much about houses tends to not understand cracks and be scared by them. I was like that too in my younger years.

I've since had a huge amount of building work on my house, taking our load bearing walls, putting in structural steels, and you would not believe the size of the cracks that continued to appear for years afterwards.

It all very very normal. The crack is in the plaster. The plaster is not holding up the house, the bricks behind it are.

Honestly you do not need to be terrified

I lost my son a few years ago and since I've had crippling anxiety 😕

I rent my home and the landlord isn't the nicest guy to approach!

I come on here and other pages to try and find reassurance, silly I know

Try reading all the responses to your previous posts.

This

This is external walls

For the love of god your house is fine. It’s old that’s all and the plaster does need replacing but structurally it’s fine and isn’t going to fall down.