TheaterFire

Is this anything to worry about when buying a property?

Posted by Own_Initiative_6243@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 343 comments

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343 Comments

Killybug@reddit

A bit of WD40 on that should reduce the squeaking of the house when the wind picks up.
View on Reddit #74626273

Icy_Attention3413@reddit

I think a few tent bags and some sturdy string will also be required
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Killybug@reddit

Don’t forget some PVA glue mix with some pritt stick for extra strengths. Blue tac might be an option if all else fails.
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OdinForce22@reddit

What does the surveyor say?
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ThatNiceDrShipman@reddit

He said to ask Reddit
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healthytofu@reddit

OP is the surveyor.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Engineer is coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning next week. Thought I’d ask mainly about the brickwork for some more insight
View on Reddit #74625885

DeemonPankaik@reddit

You're getting an engineer to excavate before you've bought the place? And the vendor is OK with this?
View on Reddit #74626485

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

It was so difficult to get an engineer to do a report on this because it obviously comes back partly on them if anything goes wrong in the future. Between me and the vendor we could only find one person and he requested excavations to be done to check depths and ground condition etc… the vendor was okay with this and has also paid for this as well. The vendor isn’t in the property as it is privately rented so it doesn’t directly affect the vendor anyway
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I_SHAG_REDHEADS@reddit

Just the poor cunt renting it?
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Laneacaia@reddit

Who is about to be evicted...
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

2 month notice in the first week of Jan. They tried buying it first but couldn’t get a mortgage approved
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HumanBeing7396@reddit

Don’t you need to give them 4 months’ notice now?
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SnooHesitations3863@reddit

It should just be human common curtesy
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DevelOP3@reddit

May that comes into affect I think
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SnooHesitations3863@reddit

So harsh.
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zestylimes9@reddit

8 weeks' notice in January when most REA aren't even for another week or two? Cruel.
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VooDooBooBooBear@reddit

Tenant could work harder to be able to afford a mortgage. Lazy.
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Ill_Initiative6962@reddit

And end up paying 3x the asking price for a block of crumbling bricks. BTW if your mortgage is still outstanding then you’re still a tenant. it’s just the bank is your landlord instead. Don’t pay, they’ll take it away.
View on Reddit #74760652

EmojiRepliesToRats@reddit

Nitbags like you falling over yourselves to assume a tenant is getting shafted.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

They have been offered another house by the vendor. I don’t know what they are doing though
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Isgortio@reddit

Any chance they couldn't get a mortgage because of the subsidence?
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DrFabulous0@reddit

I think the lack of an engineer's report will have factored into the decision for sure.
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PastLanguage4066@reddit

Perhaps these photos will identify the renters, even if only to neighbours, who may now learn that they didn’t get approved for a mortgage, which they may not want making public. Not having a go, just recommending a bit of caution when mentioning other people’s financial situations.
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jibbetygibbet@reddit

Or: 1. The property is empty 2. The tenant has served notice Whilst it’d of course be annoying if you did live there (aside from the benefit of knowing if your home is in imminent risk of collapse or not), we have no information to go on to know which it is so what is the point of these comments? Have you had to be evicted from every house you’ve rented? Personally I never have been - always left of my own accord.
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Tufty_Ilam@reddit

Section 21 and revenge evictions are more common than you seem to think. But I agree, without evidence to the contrary it's unfair to assume this wasn't amicable.
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jibbetygibbet@reddit

No, they’re not. To be valid to *assume* that it’s this would mean that section 21 “evictions” (let’s ignore that a section 21 isn’t an eviction) would have to be the *majority* of tenancies, and that is very far from the case.
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Leather-Charity2787@reddit

I've ended 5 tenancies without the need for a S21 in my life. I imagine very very few S21s come entirely out of the blue. They were a much easier way of regaining possession when a section 8 would have been proper. Once the agent started making veiled threats that we'd get one if we attempted to enforce the contract we'd signed we started making plans to move. I'm sure they're an absolute upender to get but they're certainly not the norm.
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Patch86UK@reddit

>(let’s ignore that a section 21 isn’t an eviction A section 21 notice absolutely is an eviction, both in the normal natural language use of the word and in a legal sense. The [government's own guidance](https://www.gov.uk/evicting-tenants/section-21-and-section-8-notices) describes it this way: >You can evict tenants who have an assured shorthold tenancy using a Section 21 or Section 8 notice, or both. The fact is that a tenant is told to leave their home at a time and in a circumstance not of their choosing. That's an eviction.
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jibbetygibbet@reddit

Not sure why you chose to focus on this technicality which I specially set aside as an irrelevance but no, technically a section 21 notice is not an eviction, it is a notice. Only a court can order an eviction. Only a court can order the completion of an eviction. The tenant can of course choose to stay beyond the end date of the notice and the landlord would have to apply for a possession order to evict them. In fact, if you wanted the council to house you you would need to do exactly that as otherwise they would consider your leaving to be “of your choosing” (your words) and therefore voluntarily homeless. As messed up as that is 🤷‍♂️
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Tufty_Ilam@reddit

My partner's last landlord tried twice to evict her because she expected him to provide running water, heating in every room and deal with a leaking roof. That's just one example. There's been a spike in S21s leading up to the law change. And I did say it wasn't fair to make the assumption that this is what happened in this case, so I'm not sure what your initial point was about.
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jibbetygibbet@reddit

That’s unfortunate for your friend, must be very frustrating. Actually the spike in section 21s proves the point in a roundabout way. Because landlords *don’t* routinely do it, there is an observable spike of landlords doing it that wouldn’t normally have done so. Many good landlords are exiting the market and selling up because after the law changes they will be stuck with bad tenants, continuing an existing trend caused by tax policy (meaning landlords are taxed as if they had made profits they didn’t actually make). Those that remain after RR will have extra costs - either corporate landlords who swallow the periods waiting to be able to evict tenants who now have no incentive to pay any rent pay rent, passing the costs on to all other tenants - or smaller landlords forced to buy more expensive insurance. You’ll see the same with rent increases - because they won’t be able to do it in ‘jumps’ or between tenants they will be both raising rents now and forced to increase rent consistently every year thereafter. In all it’s going to get significantly more expensive for tenants. Whereas the bad landlords are already not following the law - ending tenancies without a proper Section 21, invalid S21s because they aren’t meeting their obligations like with your friend, etc etc. Removing section 21 doesn’t actually affect these people. As usual, the behaviour of the few will end up punishing everyone else on both sides of the market.
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Tufty_Ilam@reddit

The spike means it's worse now, sure, and I agree about the reasons why. That doesn't mean they were barely used before.
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jibbetygibbet@reddit

Yes it’s worse right now… than it was in normal circumstances. The RRA has *caused* the rise in section 21s, that’s all I’m saying. Sadly I don’t think it is going to be a net positive, though it may help a few people I think it will hurt more overall in the least welcome way - it’s already very expensive to rent. Just to be complete, I didn’t say they were barely used, just that it wasn’t the norm and very far from the normal circumstance. Which I think we agree on.
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Born_Slide_6656@reddit

Yeah you threw some one sided assumptions out and then backtracked, what’s annoying about that?!? 🤡
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Tufty_Ilam@reddit

I didn't throw any assumptions out there, I said on balance it wasn't fair to make assumptions.
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AdIll1754@reddit

Well said! Not every tenant in this situation is a ‘poor cunt’.
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Lowestofbrow@reddit

Well said
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Fine_Gur_1764@reddit

That's how renting works?
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benbrahn@reddit

You’ve never rented?
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g0_west@reddit

Ive always rented and have always been aware it's someone else's flat I live in and if they want to sell then I'm shit out. It's just part of how it works, I can't stop someone from selling their own property.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Yeah well they have got to move out anyway and it’s on the outside so shouldn’t affect them too much. I think they get notice the first week of Jan
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CrabAppleBapple@reddit

>Yeah well they have got to move out anyway and it’s on the outside so shouldn’t affect them too much Depends how long they're in there. I hope you know that their notice period isn't a guaranteed amount of time for them to leave. Poor fuckers having to find somewhere this close after Christmas, they might stay six months.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Yeah it is unfortunate. They tried buying it themselves but couldn’t get a mortgage approved. The vendor has offered them another house to rent but I’m not sure what they’ll do
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stuaird1977@reddit

I know what I'd do, stay until the courts kick me out. And that takes months 
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CMRC23@reddit

Based
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New_Libran@reddit

Well, you better be buying somewhere else because good luck passing checks for a new rental
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Neftegorsk@reddit

You do realise they don’t have to go?
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No_Objective006@reddit

They do if there’s genuine intent to sell and the tenancy has been ongoing for 12 months or over.
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Neftegorsk@reddit

Mate they most certainly do not. Courts can easily take a year and in the meantime they are free to continue living there. Typical Reddit comment thread with the only people who know what they’re talking about getting downvoted.
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Nice-Rack-XxX@reddit

PMSL. It’s crazy. Go on LegalAdviceUK and every single person being evicted is told to not respond to a section 21 if it’s invalid, if it is valid, ignore it and wait until the court summons (same for section 8 in this case), once the court sets a date to be evicted, wait until they’re physically evicted by landlord and police, then go to council for emergency housing, coz if they leave if their own free will prior to that, the council won’t help. Tenants don’t have to leave until a court orders is, and it’s in their best interest to do that. If the tenants do move to the new place, and it all to go smoothly, then OP will be incredibly lucky.
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New_Libran@reddit

This only gets recycled here on reddit as well. Except you're REALLY desperate and have no way of renting another place, NO ONE wants to be evicted and then have to look for another rental with no hope of passing background checks/references. Before I bought, I rented for 15 years, moved twice due to landlord selling (offered first to me on both occasions like OP's tenant). I just moved on to another rental with peace of mind, didn't even have to change letting agents.
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No_Objective006@reddit

So eventually the tenants do need to leave? Got it.
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Nice-Rack-XxX@reddit

Obviously... But why bother looking at a defective house now, which you might not be able to move into for another two years? May as well wait for something better to come on the market, and if it doesn’t, come back to this one in a year or so.
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Civil-Director-9157@reddit

Yes, but LegalAdviceUK is generally as rubbish as you'd expect. Despite their credentials it's roughly "let's hear what would the guys holding up the bar at the Dog and Duck have to say about this". What you said is absolutely true. *If* the tenant wants to be ordered to pay the legal costs, have two six foot ex-bouncers come at 7:00am with have a locksmith tk break open the door and then walk in your house and intimidate and possibly drag you out without your belongings if you don't pack and remove them within 20 minutes. And *if* you want to go to the Council and either get put in a B & B, shared accommodation with drug addicts or be directed to one of the very few slum landlords who won't mind taking someone who has been evicted. So yes, maybe it would work. But apart from specific circumstances (you're a single mum on Universal Credit already on the housing waiting list for a council house and getting a court order for eviction would bump you up the list quickly enough to not end up being shunted into B & B and don't mind the fact that Social Services start sniffing around to wonder why you've left your kids get homeless) it's *mad* advice.
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Nice-Rack-XxX@reddit

It’s not bad advice at all. It’s exactly what citizen’s advice have told a male acquaintance of mine regarding his ongoing eviction from his flat. They’ve advised him to put the few valuables he has into storage the week before the bailiffs are due. It’s the only way he can be made involuntarily homeless and therefore the council’s problem.
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Randomn355@reddit

Section 8.
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PM_ME_UR_VULVASAUR_@reddit

Section 8 sounds like the English remake of District 9
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StaticUsernamesSuck@reddit

You mean section 21 surely?
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southants82@reddit

Mad how many people here don't understand renting.
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Broken12Bat@reddit

This comment gave me the biggest laugh I’ve had for a few days. Appreciate you sir!
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totesboredom@reddit

It's got zero to do with the renter.
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RoostingRosco@reddit

Why swear like this, on a thread about the condition of bricks ?
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Rivercaptain23@reddit

Because people are hard.
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DeathByFluffy@reddit

It’ll be a simple depth check outside - it won’t really affect the tenant.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Yes exactly
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Gammabrunta@reddit

Seems like no one wants you or anyone to buy a house xD
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PsychologicalMix1528@reddit

they just want everyone to buy a house that'll collapse, then take to reddit and make a post about it
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Antique_Loss_1168@reddit

I mean given I read reddit and don't have to live in the house....
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Mediocre-Struggle641@reddit

Hey, this is as close as they are likely to get to being involved in a structural survey, the landlord should be charging them more!
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AdIll1754@reddit

Left leaning by any chance 🤗
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2point4children@reddit

Getting a Mortgage? Mortgage company would organise a surveyor...if not, private surveyors can only advise and nothing falls back on them, its in writing on the contract.
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CameramanNick@reddit

Let them do their thing. Surveys on houses are notoriously an arse-covering list of things which *could* be wrong, followed by the words "but we can't really tell." If they're doing actual exploratory work, great.
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jtr99@reddit

OP should be prepared for extreme arse-covering in the phrasing of the report even *after* the excavation has been done though. I predict "The house may well be subject to further subsidence and the structural integrity of the brick walls may have been compromised. We cannot guarantee that the house is safe nor can we confidently say that it will fall down."
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CameramanNick@reddit

Oh, I don't doubt it. I'm not sure what you'd have to do in order to actually get a realistic idea of how safe it all is. A lot of digging, I'd assume.
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Crazym00s3@reddit

I’d want to pay for this myself as if you did buy the property you’ll have no recourse on the surveyor if they’ve missed something as the vendor is their client not you.
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Kogling@reddit

Yes OP needs to be named or the report need to be written in such a way that extends coverage beyond just their client. 
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Zealousideal-Leg1874@reddit

Looks like the ground is compressing. Is it in a marshy or clayground area?
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Impressionsoflakes@reddit

Have you instructed it and the seller is simply transferring the payment to your engineer? Or is it basically their job from their engineer? The latter gives you no comeback at all. That's why selling properties with these kinds of issues is difficult and usually requires a decent discount.
View on Reddit #74628982

tworandomm@reddit

The difficulty in getting an engineer to do a report should tell you everything you need to know.
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Salaried_Zebra@reddit

When i last sold a house, the buyer insisted on having an electrician come round and have my electricity turned off for eight fucking hours while he proceeded to rip every plug socket off the wall, damaging plaster as he went and basically leave my house a shit tip. I didn't really have a choice if wanted to sell. I basically had to hope the buyer would still go through with it (they did, thankfully).
View on Reddit #74627004

DeemonPankaik@reddit

An EICR is far more common and much less intrusive than having your foundations excavated. You could also have just declined and found another buyer. Or told the electrician to leave.
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drsgme74169@reddit

Thought that said evacuation
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w1zz00@reddit

Those cracks meandering down the wall are a problem.
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Zealousideal-Sail893@reddit

My brickwork is 188 years old and still in one piece, no flaking anywhere. I'd  be very concerned if it looked like yours. 
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Fun_Difference_2700@reddit

I’d imagine you’d better wait for the structural report from a qualified engineer rather than asking people on Reddit. That being said I’m a structural engineer with 55 years of experience working with brickwork and I can tell you 100% that in this case
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ToviGrande@reddit

I saw something about this the other day. That is most likely caused by use of gritting salts on the path. The salt gets into the bricks and accelerates weathering. As to whether it is a structural issue, I have no clue. But If it were my house I'd be sorting that out.
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Linkbetweentwirls@reddit

So maybe wait till the engineer gives you his report? Use your own initiative after all
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endlessbishop@reddit

Isn’t asking people on Reddit “how do these bricks look while I wait for my engineer report” actually them using their initiative?
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Linkbetweentwirls@reddit

No, what is the average Redditor going to know? They already have a professional on the way to look at it
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endlessbishop@reddit

How is just simply waiting for the engineer report using their own initiative then?
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Houseofsun5@reddit

It's had remedial underpinning in the past ?
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Membob@reddit

Superb! 😂
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HeadBat1863@reddit

Cool username, second worst person to come from Nottingham.
View on Reddit #74661716

Choice_Art_8685@reddit

Quality comment.
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XaeiIsareth@reddit

Rubbish. Anyone knows that a good surveyor would go ask ChatGPT.
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Impressionsoflakes@reddit

Yes! I love it when they say that
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high_ayr@reddit

Yes, I did!
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Anarky1977@reddit

They usually say that anything "might" be possible. Waste of time
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PerspectiveInside47@reddit

Imagine getting a survey lmfao, clowns
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AfternoonLines@reddit

Surveyor reports aren't worth the paper they are printed on and are a complete waste of monies. They'll get better answers here for sure.
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Low-Cheesecake2839@reddit

Agree. I usually get a really savvy builder to have a look, then if he’s not happy I don’t take it further. Surveyors / structural engineers will hedge their opinion so much it ends up not being worth much.
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Zestyclose-Public190@reddit

I mean, they're clearly not. A surveyor's job is to inspect and report issues that might require a specialist. They are not intended to be specialists or engineers themselves.
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blackleydynamo@reddit

Seconded. Last survey I had done gave the roof a clean bill of health; 18 months later it had to be replaced because the timbers were rotten enough to be in danger of collapse. Surveyor claimed he "couldn't get sufficient access to view the roof timbers on the day of inspection" which wasn't made clear at the time. RICS and local trading standards backed him up. Pretty sure I'll never bother again (unlikely to need a mortgage if I ever buy another property). What's the point?
View on Reddit #74677010

Different-Medicine89@reddit

I have your message read in a les Dennis voice lol
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_easypeeler_@reddit

Our survey said... ❌️
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SensitivePotato44@reddit

He said "bung me a 50 and I'll actually get out of the car"
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1HeyMattJ@reddit

Surveyor says ehh uhh ❌
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doodlebopsy@reddit

This has nothing to do with a survey
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KoBoWC@reddit

"Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!"
View on Reddit #74659119

FluffyAd7435@reddit

Our surveyor says.........eh errrr!
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cryptonuggets1@reddit

OP is the surveyor
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Own_Hat_2947@reddit

That'll be £700 please mate
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CommonSpecialist4269@reddit

“Could be a problem, might not be. We cannot possibly say due to the risk of you coming after us for compensation.” Basically a big shrug from surveyors. They’re mostly useless.
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St-Xii@reddit

I read that, like this was an episode of Family Fortunes.
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TwoPlyDreams@reddit

Do do do do do do do do do!
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Takklemaggot@reddit

Good game.. good game..!
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_Given2fly_@reddit

Our surveyor says, *uhhh uhhhh*
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MonsieurGump@reddit

I’ll bet you a thousand pounds the surveyor took a photograph. Gave some vague warnings to cover their own arse and then told OP to ask someone who knew what they were talking about.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Engineer is coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning next week
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TobyTibbz@reddit

I mean engineer and building surveyor are two different things. Would still be getting a full report of a highly recommended/ experienced building surveyor not just an engineer due to any overlapping issues that might not be structural.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Yes of course that is a given. However an engineer was needed for this structural report and then my own general survey will done as well
View on Reddit #74628226

OdinForce22@reddit

Okay.. so they can tell you if there is a problem or not.
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WhaleMeatFantasy@reddit

He said whatever you do don’t hold your camera straight. 
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Existingsquid@reddit

Further investigation needed, email for a quote.
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Dr-Moth@reddit

And make sure it is your surveyor, not someone provided by the estate agents.
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ja_rushton@reddit

Structural engineer here. 1-4 - looks like damage due to damp, causing the bricks to spall. If the damp issue has been rectified, I would suggest these can safely be repaired, however I would be carrying out trial pits around the affected areas to see if this issue worsens near the footings. 5-6 - almost certainly a thermal/moisture related crack judging by the pattern that’s been poorly repaired. May be related to the issue above. Mortar to be chased out and repointed. 7-8 - likely to be linked to the lintel below. Can’t tell when this property was built by the photos however the brickwork pattern suggests a boot lintel which would have likely acted in tandem with a timber window frame which would have assisted in the masonry support. When these frames get swapped for uPVC, you typically see a gradual failure in these lintels which can lead to the cracking you can see here. Resupport with a precast RC lintel 9 - seems indicative of historic movement, but as others have said in other comments, if this crack has stabilised in recent years, wouldn’t suggest any further action than localised mortar repair. All that being said, this is only friendly advice - trust the surveyor/engineer who come to physically assess the property.
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ProduceExtreme7978@reddit

Don't bother buying.. 
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deathtoallbutbed@reddit

Just based on these photos, I wouldn’t touch this with a barge pole. I’m not a surveyor, but there’s a lot going on externally, and I wouldn’t want to risk hundreds of thousands of pounds. My gut tells me if this is what it looks like outside, it’s a lot worse under the bonnet. At a minimum, get a full structural survey, but in general I’d not spend the hundreds on that survey and find something else
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JagexMuller@reddit

The photos alone show no real major concern, but you’d want more investigation work, to work out the causes.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the comment. I have got an Engineers Structural Report being done next week. As far as the internals are concerned it seems pretty good having been completely re plastered due to the underpinning. New windows in the last 3 years and it’s been rewired recently too. We will see what they say 🤞
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perpetualblack24@reddit

The cost of *that* work is pennies compared to a potential structural problem it’s covering. What’s the appeal of this property?
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

The ability to build another house next to it or extensively extend this one and its location. Somewhere hasn’t come up for sale here for 12 years
View on Reddit #74695610

Rise_707@reddit

There's a reason the saying "If it sounds too good to be true" exists. If you've got to cross your fingers to hope for the best, it's wiser to leave it alone - especially if you're only considering this house because it's what you want but can't afford *without* those issues (I.e. outside of your price bracket otherwise). I'm with the commenter above. I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole. What you're getting off the asking price now isn't worth the bills you'll pay later. Plastering to hide what's going on inside the house would have alarm bells ringing for me. Did they show you a receipt for the work on the underpinning? Can you Google the contractors number and call them to verify? (+ Check their reviews online etc and make sure they're not buddies on FB.) It's so easy for people to pull the wool over someone else's eyes when unsuspecting folks are happy to only look at the surface level info provided.
View on Reddit #74686115

Actual_Phase1819@reddit

You are sleep walking into a disaster.
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Embarrassed-Grape404@reddit

Freshly plastered to hide what… Seems you don’t want to listen when anyone says leave it, but I’d be another to say move on.
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YouEssB@reddit

Cracks look consistent with subsidence, underpinning may have failed, or they just underpinned and didnt complete the cosmetic repairs after. Underpinning doesnt make the ground recover so it could be that. Best bet is to have a surveyor or structural engineer report.
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wowsomuchempty@reddit

A SE may well just repeat your comment and charge you £££ (as was my case).
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PerspectiveInside47@reddit

This is the case in 999/1000 “surveyor” reports. Truly baffles me that people still pay for these mugs to rock up with a damp meter and tell you it’s a bit damp.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Yes I do agree and would agree that ground conditions need checking too. The vendor has arranged a Engineers Structural Report to be done at my request and excavations start next week to check the underpinning
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EVERYTHINGGOESINCAPS@reddit

Sounds like they're desperate to sell. I'd be desperate to avoid.
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SolarPowered_user@reddit

They could be desperate to sell for other non-related or problematic reasons. It isn’t a catch all ‘avoid’.
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

The vendor has a lot of property so it isn’t a desperate sale I don’t think
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YouEssB@reddit

If they put in an insurance claim for the subsidence, they should have a certificate of structural adequacy, with details on how the subsidence was mitigated and what happened since mitigation. I would ask them to see this. But this also isnt a guarantee so dont take it as "all sorted"
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

I have requested the certificate of structural adequacy and unfortunately their office say it has been lost. The vendor has quite a lot of property so I wouldn’t be surprised if they have done this work themselves to be honest
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Ok-Cancel-1469@reddit

This house must be insanely good elsewhere for you to still be considering it after this. Why take the risk instead of going for anywhere else?
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

It’s the first place here to come up for sale for 12 years. The value is in the location and not so much the house unfortunately
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TheBigWomble@reddit

Oh fuck no.
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Topinio@reddit

Run. Even if they had the certificate, this would need to be well into double digit percentages off the expected asking price to be worth considering. And I'd want to pay for my own structural engineer, too, not have one who the vendor is paying and who might expect future work from the vendor, seeing as they seem to be a landlord with many properties. I'd also ask myself why the landlord is giving up future years of rent on this specific one: their downside of keeping it must exist and outweigh that much money …
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PositivelyAcademical@reddit

And that’s the final red flag for me. Avoid.
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YouEssB@reddit

I agree, the certificate can been requested again from the loss adjusters or insurer quite easily. Too many red flags here, I'd be out as well.
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g0_west@reddit

I'd think the opposite, if they have lots of other property they're happy sitting on why are they so keen to get rid of this one in particular? Are you super married to place? One thing I learned while house hunting is to keep hunting even when you think you've settled on one place - there's always stuff coming up for sale and you might see something else you love even more
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Pogeos@reddit

Sounds like they know that the only realistic way for them to ever sell this property is to convince the next buyer that it is sound. What else could they do other than get a proper structural engineer report? They might not be desperate, but if they ever want this to be sold not as "pile of bricks" but as a "house" they need to get this reports, and any buyer would only be convinced by the report that is "fresh".
View on Reddit #74671628

Altruistic-Bat-9070@reddit

These are unlikely to be subsidence cracks they are small and coming from and around windows. Much more likely to be natural movement or, if anything, a failure in support around windows.
View on Reddit #74647172

Ok_Cow_3431@reddit

Could also be something as "simple" as a collapsed drain
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Anarky1977@reddit

An SE will tell you that anything might be possible, just to cover their backs. Waste of time. Have a decent builder look at it
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Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Structural Engineer is doing a report next week when excavations start
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wybird@reddit

Personally I wouldn’t go near a house with a story of subsidence, whatever the discount. The peace of mind you’d get every day is worth the extra.
View on Reddit #74624875

PerspectiveInside47@reddit

If anything was to happen (extremely unlikely) your home insurance would cover it.
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Spirit1969@reddit

This just looks like spalling of the bricks. As you mentioned, it looks like water has entered the bricks and expanded. I have always gone by the belief that any cracks, as long as the same crack isn't showing on the inside wall, and the crack doesn't go through a brick, but rather follows a mortar line, even if it follows zig zagging up mortar lines, there isn't much to worry about. Always get a full survey, pre warning the surveyor of any concerns you want them to pay particular attention to. As long as they give the all clear, you are covered. Just make sure those concerns are probable. Either in letter to the surveyors office, sent with a traced signed for service, or via email, when instructing the surveyors company. Insisting on a reply confirming this will be looked at as part of the survey. There are a few nationwide survey companies in the UK now. Do your homework. Look for company reviews. Never just have a mortgage survey as that will tell you nothing other than the house exists. The difference nowadays between a mortgage survey and a full survey, isn't as much as you may imagine. A mortgage survey runs around £150 - £250, depending on location, and a full survey, with detailed report and particular concerns investigate runs £500 - £1000 depending on size and location. A regular 3 bedroomed house will be at the lower end of that scale. Considering the amount of money involved in a house purchase, it really is prudent to buy the top survey. If not, you could be making an expensive mistake. Always make sure a survey company, and surveyor are members of a trade body such as RICS, CIOB, OR CABE. Just in case you wasn't aware? The most basic survey carried out on behalf of a lender, doesn't even trouble the surveyor to get out of their car. They will simply pull up outside the property, glance a quick eye at the property. May, if they can be bothered, breakout a pair of binoculars to glance at the roof. Tick a box to confirm that there is a building, and it is standing, then get on their way to the next basic survey. A bank to lend money on a property, only wants to know that the property exists and is standing, unless it is wildly overpriced. Then they will question why and may warrant further investigation. If you end up buying it. Make sure the building is insured for its full demolition and rebuild cost. A lot of people only consider the rebuild cost. The clearing of the site can often be just as much as the rebuild cost. Many insurers have blanket policies nowadays to more than cover both of these concerns. Make sure landslide and heave are covered. This also usually demands the biggest policy excess. Somewhere between £1000 - £2000 on the average 3 - 4 bed house. This is your first priority. Obviously, accidental building cover is also desirable, especially if you enjoy DIY. Contents is also very important, but buildings cover takes precedence every time. In an ideal world you will buy each at the same time, but some people have to choose, when low on cash. Buildings first, then contents, always. I hope this has been of some help?
View on Reddit #74803998

Soomroz@reddit

A historic settlement in the foundation is something that you shouldn't worry about. If the house OP mentioned has had these cracks for years, then it's as safe as a house without cracks. That happens when the builders build houses on made ground and don't compact it properly. (Opening the can of worms now) But if the cracks are wider/larger then these have probably impacted on the structural integrity of the house. This might also make it worse if one corner settles more than the other. So OP should take your statement with a pinch of salt.
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jtr99@reddit

Good points. What year was the house built, OP?
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Impressionsoflakes@reddit

We pulled out of a house when the report came back to say it been underpinned. And your comment is exactly what we were told by numerous armchair property experts - including people who lived in identical houses on that street. It sold to other buyers. Then a few years later, it began subsiding again and was on the market again for £50k less than they'd paid for it.
View on Reddit #74629295

SnooCakes1636@reddit

May have been sold to developers on a part-ex scheme for a new build. A house is only worth what someone will pay.
View on Reddit #74664199

Soomroz@reddit

I never said in my post that it won't settle again. Why would you assume that?
View on Reddit #74629503

Impressionsoflakes@reddit

You said historic settlement is "something you shouldn't worry about." A statement which, in my opinion, is at perpendicular variation from the facts. Good day.
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HandyWhorehole@reddit

That may well be the case but given the choice between a house with and without subsidence/crack repairs I'd also choose the one without. It's just down to probabilities. Also when it comes to selling, not only is the base of buyers statistically smaller, you are looking at a longer selling period.
View on Reddit #74652470

audigex@reddit

3-4 years ago isn’t long enough for that to apply, for me Sure if it subsided 20 years ago and hasn’t moved since then I might not be too fussed about it, but it’s gotta be at least a decade before that applies
View on Reddit #74636239

wybird@reddit

I am not a structural engineer so you may well be totally correct but if I bought this place it would play on my mind whenever I saw any cracks, new or old, so I would be much happier not living here than if I saved the extra money to buy it.
View on Reddit #74626692

anunkneemouse@reddit

My bil is a structural survey and had regularly said basically what the guy you're replying to has said. Old houses almost always had some subsidence shortly after being built, and after settlement isnt an issue.
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Soomroz@reddit

Yea even the furniture cracking noise in the house would be enough to give you a jump scare. Lol.
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BlueChickenBandit@reddit

Structural movement of a property can happen for a variety of different reasons and can happen any time after construction in certain circumstances. Just because movement is historic and hasn't moved in a certain period of time it doesn't mean it won't happen again. It's always best to get anything like this checked by an engineer or home insurance may not cover anything in future.
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OSUBrit@reddit

Depends on the age. My previous house had subsidence 30 years previously, i wasn’t worried as the surveyor cleared it.
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Jumblesss@reddit

This one was “3-4 years ago” which probably means 37 months ago
View on Reddit #74658707

weatherwaxisgod@reddit

On top of that, insurance for them is a nightmare. Will easily cost you triple what it otherwise would and probably wouldn't cover future risk of subsidence (used to work for an insurance company)
View on Reddit #74634858

Uvanimor@reddit

Not to mention the difficulty of getting any property with a history of subsidence insured. I wouldn’t bother, 3-4 years is not long enough to give anyone confidence. Not to mention if the seller wasn’t seedy, they would be sharing the annual engineering reports that would 100% still be conducted if everything was above-board with OP.
View on Reddit #74627296

Ok-Energy-3065@reddit

The majority of the brickwork at a glance looks like blown faces on bricks, this happens when water gets into the small cracks on (mainly) textured bricks like yours, then its freezes and blows the fronts off, due to them being below damp id say this is definitely the case as escaping your property will dry the bricks out naturally or prevent wet bricks getting cold enough internally to freeze the moisture trapped. Hope this helps
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WilfDal@reddit

It appears that frost damage is occurring, as it's all below the DPC line. If the brickwork is saturated with water and you have hard frost, all the water that has wicked up will expand when it changes state to ice. The forces are huge, it'll blow concrete apart.
View on Reddit #74857099

Organicearthful@reddit

I heard houses built on clay soil in England were now more prone to shrinkage settlement from drought dessication in recent years.
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Ok-Design-4629@reddit

Looks like it could cost a fortune if those bricks are blown, they are very badly damaged up to the damp proof course. Unless it’s a bargain and you are prepared for spending potentially large sums on correcting the structure avoid
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tidder01-@reddit

Why are you wasting our time with this? subsidence, cracks and crumbling bricks. Just walk away from it mate!
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Own_Cantaloupe8747@reddit

That’s bottom part- the broken bricks, is called the DPC From my understanding from my previous job, the DPC (damp proof course) is most effective when it is 2/3 bricks high from the ground- it seems that house suits this description. Behind that wall should either be insulation, or nothing. It’s a gap used between your inside wall and outside wall. Anyway, back onto the question- is it an issue? Yeah (Probably). Especially if you have foam insulation, Because the cracks will get water inside of it and then wet the foam / fiber insulation- this will mean that the EPC rating of the house lowers, even if it has had the insulation installed. Are there any solutions? Don’t know. But I hope my message helped. Broken bricks = risk of damaged insulation Damaged insulation = a house which doesn’t retain heat so easily. A house that doesn’t retain heat easily = A low EPC a low EPC = higher cost of heating and many more. You can get this checked out for about 50 kwid on the govs website to see if you can get it fixed. Look up home insulation, They will send the inspector out. *not a major professional in this realm, I just know about the bricks and insulation.*
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EvidenceWorth4671@reddit

Just to let everyone know that spalling brickwork like this will not affect the EPC rating of a property because this type of thing is not taken into account during an assessment.
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Miserable-Ad-65@reddit

I’m a Chartered Building Surveyor. Just checking you know this is a non-traditional house and may struggle to get a mortgage on it?
View on Reddit #74807049

fjgfghv@reddit

I can't see much of a dpc on the pictures and the bricks are crumbling where they meet the ground level maybe due to the ground level being too high and built up in the past. It's be avoiding this property also due to the movement cracks on the walls. Could be a host of issues on those two problems alone.
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Hustle8819@reddit

There are no obvious signs of subsidence or any structural defects. Damage like this is common on corner/wall junctions and is most likely some form of impact damage. You can see the upper courses appear to have been struck by something, likely someone wheeling something etc also. Very unlikely this is anything structural and the masonry repair can be done in less than an hour by a decent brickie. Hope that helps.
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CaptainTrip@reddit

This is a serious reply despite how it might sound - this house looks like shit? Damp concrete running up to damp blown bricks, cement tile window sills, weird window layouts, brick lintels instead of cement (and the upstairs one goes straight into the fascia for some reason?) - is there a bank robber's treasure hidden under this or something? It looks like it needs knocked down and started again. 
View on Reddit #74627337

Jumpy-Function-5883@reddit

Thats basically all houses in the UK
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Master-Relief-2692@reddit

That's the most dramatic response I've seen to a bit of general maintenance on a house I've ever heard. 😅
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sperry222@reddit

Windows upstairs to the fascia is quite common in certain areas, that wouldnt concern me but everything else would
View on Reddit #74629731

Dave_2k84@reddit

i'll huff and i'll puff and i'll blow the house down
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TreSpliff@reddit

I don't think I'd buy a house which is cracked in half g
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Strange_Branch9121@reddit

Typically cracks like this are past settlement. What would he more worrying is wider vertical cracking .
View on Reddit #74746761

Worldly_Dingo8812@reddit

Run baby run
View on Reddit #74725246

Traditional_Ad7802@reddit

Look like its had a lot of badly done remedial work. Other than that hard to say concrete path round the house is causing issues making the bricks blow.
View on Reddit #74717816

Membob@reddit

Not even for free. Find something that’s not going to fill you with worry for evermore.
View on Reddit #74716131

Declaron@reddit

You need to dig under the wall and check the foundations, if they house is still there after you've done that then your good 👍
View on Reddit #74708388

naegoodinthedark@reddit

DPC is saturated because the concrete slab has been laid right up against it
View on Reddit #74625679

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Agreed and this was one of my concerns
View on Reddit #74625968

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

Also in regard to the cracks,I guarantee they’re nothing serious as they are just through the muck work and not the bricks. And considering the fact they’re at the windows it’s probably that there were no lintels above the windows,and when they replaced the windows/lintels it created a few cracks,happens all the time
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Frosty_Leg4438@reddit

Completely disagree with this. If you look closely you can see they are progressive. Most cracked areas are cracks through a new mortar already used to fix previous cracking and one area the cracks are showing through the 3rd repointing.
View on Reddit #74665265

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

All the cracks between the top window and the bottom window are through the original mortar mate ?
View on Reddit #74674803

Frosty_Leg4438@reddit

No if you look carefully it’s been previously re pointed to cover the cracks. It’s clearest on the last photo one course done and 2 bricks across from the yellow lintel.
View on Reddit #74698341

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

I don’t think it has been repointed mate,if you look at that photo,I’d say that have just relayed the course below the top window when it was replaced (and they have installed a lintel above the-bottom window and relayed the 3 courses in front of it,all looks like original muck between the windows to me mate. Anyway I’m sure he’ll get it sorted out,happy new year 👍
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brickstick90@reddit

You are giving bad advice here. Of course there are lintels, they are Catnic so you can’t see them externally. Cracks in mortar don’t mean no problems, just that the problem is presented at the weakest point.
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Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

I think it is pretty obvious to anyone who lays Bricks that the top three courses (which include the new lintel) have clearly been re-laid after the window has been installed probably because CRACKS appeared
View on Reddit #74633384

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

I get the feeling you don’t know what you’re talking about😂 As you can clearly see in the photo the top three courses above the window have been relayed at a later date which obviously implies that the catnick/lintels have been put in probably once the new windows have been installed, and no one addressed the existing crack Which means cracks would have appeared before the lintels were put in. I run a building company and we come across Jobs like this all the time
View on Reddit #74633222

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

You can actually see they have repaired above the windows if you look at the 3 courses above them mate
View on Reddit #74626720

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Appreciate your comments thank you! I agree with the statement about the cracks because they mainly follow the mortar so I could chase the mortar out and repoint and replace the lower bricks in sections as you mentioned so I don’t weaken the structure. I also noticed the work done around the windows with added weep vents etc.. I wouldn’t know what to do about the concrete to get to the brick below because I believe this is part of the underpinning. Or that’s what I have been lead to believe. Thanks
View on Reddit #74627247

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

Yes, the cracks are definitely not structural they’re purely because they will always be movement if there’s no lintels above windows(which have clearly been replaced. Also, I would be very surprised if that Concrete has anything to do with the underpinning as surely someone has not put in a meter deep of pure Concrete? With underpinning you would normally dig down around a metre to the solid ground put in about 6/800 of Concrete but then you are supposed to leave a 50 mil gap to dry pack the next day with sharp sand as obviously wet concrete will shrink and makes the underpinning completely void.
View on Reddit #74627399

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Yes I believed underpinning was meant to be done this way with a special concrete with fibres to prevent so much shrinkage. It just makes no sense as to why you would pour concrete right up to the DPC with no fall on it and it’s clearly not had a float over it to smooth it off when it was poured either. I’ll see what the structural engineer says. Cheers
View on Reddit #74627999

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

Maybe it was done in a different way than usual mate. Your property might be in a completely different area but yes you are right makes no sense. Why underpinning would come up to the DPC as the whole point is? The dam course has to be two courses above any ground level. I’ll be interested to know the outcome, mate. Good luck.
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naegoodinthedark@reddit

Can't comment on the subsidence but the DPC looks to be doing it's job. You could just cut back the concrete and replace any spalled bricks
View on Reddit #74627362

Agreeable_Guide_3961@reddit

Where all of the bricks are blown at the ground level,it’s probably the same below aswell. Would be worth getting a builder to put a French drain in there,get rid of all the concrete. Also you could also replace a couple of the bricks too,section by section. (Builder here)we done a couple jobs exactly the same as this over the last few months)
View on Reddit #74626495

MassiveBeatdown@reddit

Agreed. DPC is now too close to the ground level. That combined with the subsidence means I wouldn’t touch this with a barge pole. There are too many issues that could potentially cost a lot of money. 
View on Reddit #74629799

Additional_Hippo_878@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/renykj5w5iag1.jpeg?width=1701&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a024ef1116ae04905e538495c6e964a10577b136 Immediately.
View on Reddit #74699527

po2gdHaeKaYk@reddit

I find the general Reddit replies baffling. 1/4 are jokes about why you're asking in Reddit. 1/4 tell you that general surveys are useless. 1/4 tell you that your engineering study will be useless (will it be?) Absolutely no insight whatsoever of causes or insight from experience. Remember that this is like asking a room of anonymous 15 year olds what they think. You might get some better experience in the subreddit for UK DIY where there is some buildings work experience. But yeah, probably best to wait for some more information because this is like me asking a random teenager on the street to comment on my home mortgage.
View on Reddit #74698656

Choice-Implement1643@reddit

If there is any part of you that thinks buying this property is a good idea then you sir are crazy. Those cracks throughout the entirety of the external wall are bot a good sign. I think it’s a very risky buy.
View on Reddit #74682216

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

It’s mainly due to the location and the fact that I can build a whole new property to the side of it or extensively extend this current property. It’s the first place to come up for sale here in 12 years
View on Reddit #74695573

BeginningEntire7498@reddit

Walk away my friend!! Unless you can get it for a rediculous discounted price. Too many unknowns!
View on Reddit #74689940

Great_Specialist_267@reddit

Indicates a long term problem with salt intrusion and rising damp. Damp moves the salt and the salt shatters the brick when it crystallises. The concrete poured around it indicates it is a long term problem.
View on Reddit #74688508

AcePlanespotting@reddit

Hungry rats that eat bricks 
View on Reddit #74685731

PrincessTitan@reddit

Everything is something to worry about when purchasing a house. I used to be so wistful about buying houses until my ex showed me how they bought property and wow… You should be worried about every little thing unless you want to be fkd over in future…
View on Reddit #74684169

Skycbs@reddit

The spalled bricks don’t look so bad. The enormous crack down the wall looks like a big problem.
View on Reddit #74682585

Express_Specific_188@reddit

That's not subsidence it's frost attack...it wants new brickwork
View on Reddit #74679697

Actual_Phase1819@reddit

I wouldn’t even entertain the idea of buying this property. Nightmare waiting to happen for multiple different reasons.
View on Reddit #74679506

spookalip@reddit

Yes weres the damp course
View on Reddit #74677235

skronk61@reddit

Ahh that’s the master brick, one strong gust of wind and the whole house will tip over.
View on Reddit #74676673

Puppysnot@reddit

Nah don’t worry about it mate 👍🏾
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Boippop@reddit

Run
View on Reddit #74672444

joehonestjoe@reddit

My parents house had subsidence and you would be hard pressed to find any evidence it happened. Lot of this looks amateurish, which makes me wonder about the quality the underpinning 
View on Reddit #74672052

OldOllie@reddit

it is fixable you just have to do a couple at a time. Might as well use engineering bricks. I had to do basically the whole bottom row allong the front because it was under the concrete which we removed because of damp.
View on Reddit #74671629

TheIrishClubHQ@reddit

Yes, I would treat this as something that needs proper investigation, not something to ignore. A few points stand out: 1. Multiple cracks There isn’t just one isolated crack. You can see cracking in different locations and directions, which can indicate historic movement rather than simple cosmetic failure of mortar. 2. Crumbling brickwork at the base The deterioration at the bottom course could be caused by prolonged moisture exposure, but at a corner this can also be a stress point, where loads are transferred downwards. Corners are often where movement shows first. 3. Corner pressure / load concentration The damage at the corner could be consistent with structural load bearing down unevenly, particularly if there has been past settlement or ground movement. 4. Possibility of historic underpinning The suggestion that the property may already have been underpinned is important. Underpinning itself isn’t necessarily a problem if it was done properly, but it changes the risk profile of the property. Crucially: If underpinning has taken place, the buyer should: • Ask for full documentation (engineer’s reports, completion certificates, guarantees). • Confirm which insurer covered the underpinning. • Ensure that the same insurer is willing to continue cover. Many new insurers will either refuse to quote or apply heavy exclusions for pre-existing subsidence or underpinning, which can become a serious issue later. Bottom line: This isn’t an automatic “walk away”, but it absolutely warrants: • A structural engineer’s inspection (not just a standard survey), and • Full clarity on any historic subsidence or underpinning and its insurance position before proceeding. Ignoring it could store up expensive problems down the line.
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Medium_Chemist_5719@reddit

/r/structuralengineering
View on Reddit #74667847

sssstttteeee@reddit

Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. If it was underpinned, why didn't they get the rest of this fixed? No with a dollop of no!
View on Reddit #74667741

Aristosticles@reddit

It's an indication of invasive bum disease. DNB
View on Reddit #74667540

Trude-s@reddit

The blown bricks at the bottom don't bother me. They could just be slowwwwwwly replaced. The cracks going up look quite scary though.
View on Reddit #74667312

rosscopecopie@reddit

Probably gutters full of moss
View on Reddit #74667291

Humble_Pickle8607@reddit

Nah, the bottom of a house isnt too important, all good 👍🏻
View on Reddit #74667242

Slight_Competition_1@reddit

Have you ever taken the bottom bricks out of a game of Jenga?
View on Reddit #74664979

Blastaz@reddit

I mean that looks like a problem.
View on Reddit #74660778

Terrible-Shine5420@reddit

Definitely something to worry about
View on Reddit #74658339

Wiedegeburt@reddit

It is a potential can of worms i would avoid tbh unless it is super cheap. If your lucky you may get away with just raking out the mortar with an angle grinder (you can get an aattatchment for this) where the joints are , inserting helefix bars and re pointing with a high poly mortar premix (get a good chemical bond as well as mechanical)
View on Reddit #74658073

FluffyAd7435@reddit

Bricks falling apart? Nah, I'm sure it'll be grand.
View on Reddit #74657762

The_Molemans_bawbag@reddit

It looks like a drain problem
View on Reddit #74657284

19JMC96@reddit

Yes. My advice, please dont buy it. Plenty more houses about with no structural issues. Let someone else inherit this poorly constructed house with drainage issues
View on Reddit #74657205

Nectarine-999@reddit

Walk away.
View on Reddit #74654028

FiestyDuckZero@reddit

Does the previous owner have the COSA? (Certificate of structural adequacy.) If an insured has undertaken subsidence works, once works are finished they should provide a COSA which briefly outlines what caused tue subsidence and what was done to fix it. This will be useful for you when you get home insurance in the future. As any pre-existing subsidence will not be covered. But if the COSA proves it’s been fixed, this shouldn’t be an issue. The previous owner should also have copies of the site investigations the insurers did to determine a subsidence claim, which will be useful for the structural engineer to see and compare.
View on Reddit #74653986

Njosnavelin93@reddit

Yes, never and I mean NEVER swing a sledge hammer at it.
View on Reddit #74653917

nonbiobruce@reddit

Looks more along the lines of settlement to me (ba-dum-tsh), the spalling below the damp course is because of the concrete slab outside so either get rid of the pad around the perimeter of the house to a width of 100mm and put an ayco drain in or think about a resin path and/or patio instead. Without reading too far into the comments - my guess is you want to put a double or sizeable single extension on the back and you/ structural/ architectural types are worried the work will upset the original structure?
View on Reddit #74653247

PARFT@reddit

no because you don’t buy it.
View on Reddit #74651355

CtrlShiftAaron@reddit

Subsidence is bad news
View on Reddit #74647921

rynchenzo@reddit

The bricks have blown, possibly due to the subsidence crushing them. If you're not sure what you're looking at then this one is probably best avoided.
View on Reddit #74624946

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

I did state the bricks had blown but I was looking for more insight on whether it could be water damage due to retention because of the lack of run off due to the concrete etc. I am aware and have a structural engineer booked to do a report but just wanted some more insight
View on Reddit #74626113

rynchenzo@reddit

Picture 5 showing the subsidence crack having been filled in. You have blown bricks to the right of it and on the left they are fine. It's not standing water that's the issue, the subsidence has crushed the bricks on the right hand side.
View on Reddit #74647867

Illustrious-Welder84@reddit

It's most likely caused by water, you hunch looks to be correct mate. Either water pools against the house (no moss growth though, so less likely to be that) or the water cannot escape under the ground through the concrete and underpinning. It sits under the top skin of the brick and slowly destroys the bricks when it freezes and thaws. Personally I would avoid.
View on Reddit #74634392

Dry_rye_@reddit

Given the location of the bricks I'd assume it's not the subsidence. It's that concrete. I'd say avtrue solution would involve removing all the concrete so factor that in when costing. It's either the concrete trapping moisture against the lower bricks or its the splashback off the concrete making them too wet or indeed it's both. No matter which, the concrete has to come out. If you view other properties bear in mind concrete shouldn't really touch the buildings like that, even if the bricks haven't started going yet.  Good luck with the structural survey!
View on Reddit #74633306

toady89@reddit

I initially thought water damage for the bricks but photo 5 where the damage is one side of the crack only would lead me to it being related to the subsidence. There's a very clear line between bricks that are damaged and bricks that aren't, water wouldn't do that.
View on Reddit #74631052

Due-Dot1255@reddit

Standing Water over time can damage the bricks like that, drainage blocked somewhere. The pattern of clean concrete near the damage might be indicative that moisture is being absorbed by the bricks. Where as the rest is sticking around long enough for green matter to grow. As for subsidence I know nothing about it. But with houses being built on clay, and the fashion for the front garden being covered over, coupled with climate variability causing shifting of clay basis. Then the ticking time bomb of climate change will cause subsidence on greater scale throughout these blessed isles. Consult a professional lol.... Good luck with your search !!
View on Reddit #74627291

inide@reddit

Subsidence cracking mortar is one thing, but actually cracking bricks? I wouldnt go near that.
View on Reddit #74647861

BlighterJC@reddit

Is it me or is that a DPC level with that concrete path? (image 3). Also looks like lintel work at some point? (Image 7).
View on Reddit #74646047

monk16seaton@reddit

One hour job for a bricky or skilled construction worker. DPC will need to be relaid.
View on Reddit #74645504

monk16seaton@reddit

First photo
View on Reddit #74645583

hit_me_one_more_tym@reddit

It is raising damp but engineer will check for you if it something to worry or maybe just poor drainage which can be fixed
View on Reddit #74644598

dinos196868@reddit

Yes it is
View on Reddit #74644289

BigDaddyNK@reddit

How cheap and perfect is this property that there isnt a similar property in the area without this problem?
View on Reddit #74637145

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

First property in the area to come up for sale for 12 years
View on Reddit #74640026

browneyone@reddit

Did the company provide any guarantee who carried out the underpinning? Even if they did I'd probably walk.
View on Reddit #74625686

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

The company has unfortunately gone bust which isn’t a great sign! I have an Engineer coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning etc next week.
View on Reddit #74626008

Takklemaggot@reddit

So they've gone bust and the seller has 'lost' the certificate of completed works..? Yet, you're still interested in buying it..? Bloody hell, mate..!
View on Reddit #74631743

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately the value isn’t exactly with the house it’s more the location because a house hasn’t come up for sale here for 12 years
View on Reddit #74639408

browneyone@reddit

What's your mortgage provider said?
View on Reddit #74626032

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

They are very lenient on underpinning and said it shouldn’t be an issue. Nothing highlighted on their Mortgage Valuation Survey either. I have got an engineers structural report being done for my own piece of mind though
View on Reddit #74626550

Logical-Track1405@reddit

I wouldn't touch tbh to many variables - differential cracking etc, Post states property has been underpinned... And your still seeing this cracking? Not good tbh Not sure why brickwork has spalled so badly, maybe concrete ground level is too high/ close to dpc. In short, so many questions and queries.. Up to you but I wouldn't be happy to proceed given property previous history. (Retired Building Control Surveyor)
View on Reddit #74639283

PabloCreep@reddit

Might also want to check the integrity of the window lintels there. Our house showed similar signs of cracks from the top corners of the windows because the lintels had rusted and expanded. FWIW our surveyor was shit and missed pretty much everything important. I had a friend in the trade come round to check the place. Spotted a load of stuff the surveyor missed.
View on Reddit #74639235

Legitimate-Celery796@reddit

Cracks under windows is likely nothing to worry about, because there’s a lot less load there any movement will translate to cracks there.
View on Reddit #74637402

Crazyblondie11@reddit

I worked for an insurance company that dealt with subsidence claims, please please don’t buy this property 🫣
View on Reddit #74635493

PiesForGood@reddit

This \*looks\* like the crumbling stops where the dampcoursing is. That's your biggest clue to what this is. Looks like you've got damp in the brick, it's frozen (and freezing water expands) and fractured the brick. There's a treatment for this, injecting stuff in high pressure into the brick, I forget what it is called
View on Reddit #74635200

actualcompile@reddit

Your appetite for risk may be different to mine. For me, I would go find another house.
View on Reddit #74635006

Desktopcommando@reddit

remove bricks and re-do it, could be caused by drips from above - or wind blasting around that area
View on Reddit #74634756

Dionysus60@reddit

So it looks like they have used facing bricks below the dpc. Normally you use engineering bricks as they are less likely to blow like this when exposed to moisture. It shows the DPC is working though as they are not blown above the doc. but they may need replacing. For the cracks get a structural engineer to take a look.
View on Reddit #74634733

Master-Afternoon6398@reddit

Hey, fellow underpinned house buyer here! We bought a house that was underpinned 20+ years ago. Everything was done via a council and everything looked okay via our reports etc. We also had a 20 year warranty alongside full plans and certificates. If it’s only been done 3-4 years ago and it looks like that, and based on your comments about the company going bust with no certification of repairs, I would definitely walk away. Also, insurance will be a nightmare (i’m talking up to 4-5x more than an average house) and even for us was a slight pain after all these years. Just remember, the point of any remedial works is to ensure the house will never subside again. You don’t want the constant stress / anxiety of monitoring everything. Plus any potential future structural repairs aren’t cheap!
View on Reddit #74634464

thekernowking@reddit

Is this in East Devon?
View on Reddit #74633684

AlphaMassDeBeta@reddit

The previous owner being a rampant pedophile actually lowered the value for me so I baught it. I had to redecorate the place.
View on Reddit #74633658

geckograham@reddit

Just buy a different house. I don’t understand why you’d buy into issues like that.
View on Reddit #74633086

Disastrous-King9559@reddit

Always get a surveyor dont be tight
View on Reddit #74625229

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Engineer is coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning next week just wanted some insight beforehand
View on Reddit #74625903

Zbodownlow@reddit

Why would you post on here before getting their report?
View on Reddit #74627051

Linkbetweentwirls@reddit

Sorry mate, you make no sense. Why wait for a professional report from a trained engineer when you ask random people on Reddit
View on Reddit #74632636

adezlanderpalm69@reddit

Don’t buy it. It’s a problem
View on Reddit #74632584

SumpNut84@reddit

Just walk away dude, it's a buyers market and there is absolutely no need to buy a subsiding property and all of the headaches that come with it
View on Reddit #74632563

ODGABFE@reddit

Im no engine ear structururl reportist but i say do not go near it.
View on Reddit #74632403

MrPloppyHead@reddit

You might want to check if you are able to get a mortgage for it.
View on Reddit #74627913

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Mortgage valuation survey done and nothing highlighted
View on Reddit #74628169

MrPloppyHead@reddit

You mentioned the historic subsidence presumably? Wait on the structural engineer report. But as one person pointed out it will always be their in the back of your mind.
View on Reddit #74631555

Innocuouscompany@reddit

I’d stay away from this house personally. A cracked brick alongside the stepping mortar cracks isn’t a good sign.
View on Reddit #74631251

kahnindustries@reddit

Offer them half or move on to another house
View on Reddit #74631072

AnotherGreenWorld1@reddit

Shouldn’t there be a lintel above the window in picture 6? It looks like there might have been a lintel and someone’s replace with a new row of bricks and that might explain some of the cracking above.
View on Reddit #74630837

f8rter@reddit

Avoid this property
View on Reddit #74630748

Admirable_Fill_7643@reddit

Insurance! We bought a previously underpinned property with a mortgage. At completion, there were difficulties obtaining insurance. In the end, our mortgage company had to insure us as no one else would. And when we sold the property, we had to sell it with our insurance policy.
View on Reddit #74630613

Jacksonriverboy@reddit

Get a structural survey before you go any further.
View on Reddit #74630482

TravelOwn4386@reddit

Concrete should not be straight up to house/bricks this is probably sucking water up into bricks as it's nowhere to go then frost cracks the face of the brick. There really should be a gap between so that water can drain into the soil. Could be a big job to break all that concrete up to sort.
View on Reddit #74625778

BillWilberforce@reddit

Breaking out concrete with a hydraulic drill is a piece of piss. But there will be a lot of vibrations very close to the house. Really, really need to start away from the house and clear the big pieces away from the house before you get close to it and use a chisel attatchment and not a point.
View on Reddit #74626315

TravelOwn4386@reddit

I haven't done it before so wasn't sure how much work.i guess it seems a shame to rip the whole thing out just because a gap wasn't left but I would agree the vibrations would make it highly risky to just create a small channel.
View on Reddit #74627040

naegoodinthedark@reddit

If you just wanted to channel it then it's simple. Stihl cut off saw then chip and lift up what you've cut
View on Reddit #74630377

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately I believe the concrete is part of the shoddy underpinning that has been done previously so I’d be more inclined to go over the top of it again but with a fall and drainage to prevent water sitting by the bricks etc or skim off the top and replace with slabs and drainage
View on Reddit #74626372

TravelOwn4386@reddit

I doubt it's part of underpinning it looks like they wanted a path/patio and layed it. It might have been done by the underpinners to make good what was there they had to break up to do the work but I doubt it's part of the actual structural underpinning work. In other words rip up and have it done properly with some gravel between the house and concrete.
View on Reddit #74626963

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Yes agreed. Something definitely needs doing with it. I’ll probably replace it with slabs with an adequate fall away from the brickwork and drainage
View on Reddit #74627746

David_Kennaway@reddit

No it's frost damage. Just cut out and replace the few bricks. Be careful not to break the damp proof course.
View on Reddit #74630100

Due-Crab-3226@reddit

I’d avoid to be sure 🤔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
View on Reddit #74629987

speckledgem@reddit

Cracks in mortar - not so much of a worry, but the cracks in the brick would give me serious pause. Those ‘repairs’ look terrible and I would be looking for any certification of work done on the underpinning (we had a subsiding house, built on a former work site) and it was expensive to rectify and every time a new crack would appear (indoors and outdoors) we worried. I wouldn’t buy another house that had a hint of subsidence. Be very wary. Unless you’re getting this property for a notably reduced rate for the area. You may have trouble insuring it too, (without a massive excess, think £1000 upwards or a specialist policy) and you *have* to declare subsidence, which in turn may affect a mortgage if you can’t get properly insured. All in all I think this will be very expensive.
View on Reddit #74629219

Fullchimp@reddit

Beavers.
View on Reddit #74628173

MoonageManic@reddit

Is it really worth the risk, stress, hassle and work if you buy it and there are issues further down the line given the clear indication that it’s likely something isn’t right currently? I would run away.
View on Reddit #74626762

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

It’s the first place that’s come up for sale in this area in 12 years. Unfortunately it really is about the location for this purchase. I will wait to hear off the structural engineer and take it from there
View on Reddit #74627797

hhfugrr3@reddit

I'd be worried if they was a gerbil on the loose big enough to nibble at my house.
View on Reddit #74624827

alarming_wrong@reddit

seconded. the brief infamy you'd get on TikTok just isn't worth it imho
View on Reddit #74627745

George_Salt@reddit

It was underpinned within the last five years, and there's no report from that time as to what was done? So it has to be dug up for investigations? I've got Tesco receipts older than five years.
View on Reddit #74627248

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Exactly, this is one of my concerns because I think the vendor could have done this work themselves. They just stated the paperwork and certification has been lost. This is why a structural engineers report is going to be done
View on Reddit #74627557

Stunning_Delay1164@reddit

Type 3 RICS survey required. Cost approx £1500. The property needs to be surveyed holistically taking into account it's site and surroundings. Qualified building surveyor over 15 years experience here. Diagonal cracking through brick and mortar consistent with structural movement to the corner. Lintels replaced causing weakness and cracking to weakest points. Buyer beware. You may have leverage for price negotiation with a good surveyors report. Good luck
View on Reddit #74627494

Potter639@reddit

2 different issues, one small one potentially serious. The blown bricks at the base are simply caused by water saturating the bricks. Just bear in mind there might be more blown bricks underneath it. The cracks under the windows etc are caused by subsidies. Are there any visible cracks inside? It will still 100% require some serious investigation. The good news is, you will definitely get this house at a discounted price. The bad news is, the subsidies could happen again in the future
View on Reddit #74626067

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the comment. As far as the internals are concerned it seems pretty good having been completely re plastered due to the underpinning. New windows in the last 3 years and it’s been rewired recently too. Will have to look deeper though in case it’s all just masking a further serious issue
View on Reddit #74626652

Potter639@reddit

No problem!! I'm no expert but I've bought a 50 yrs old house and an array of issues to deal with as well. Hopefully the plastering wasn't redone too recently(to cover more issues), but that's down to the owners honesty. Best of luck!
View on Reddit #74627343

high_ayr@reddit

Looks like it is caused by water, frost, unfreezing on a surface that has a lot of water, bricks don't do well in water, have no idea how Italy and Holland do it , but that's what you want ,not untreated brick , and there is no drainage or plastic covering, which indicates it may be deeper , I would get an engineers report of the underpinning , on the bright side I would normally get this repaired before sake as this is a price negotiation lever . If this is where subsidence is , I think you have your answer.
View on Reddit #74626508

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the comment. I have got an Engineers Structural Report being done next week. They will be excavating to check depths and ground conditions etc
View on Reddit #74627332

Less-Writing7473@reddit

Judging by the dabs of adhesive either side of the crack in picture 8, then it looks like someone has attached a gauge to monitor the movement/subsidence. If this was the case, then maybe you can ask the homeowner for a copy of the report? If they deny all knowledge or are evasive then I think you’ve answered your own question… As others have said a bit of movement is inevitable and cracks can be made worse by filling them with a mortar mix that is too strong and doesn’t give… Regardless, and assuming the report didn’t say anything further investigation by a SE would definitely be recommended - just ask lots of questions. The damage to the bricks is not a problem in and of itself, just a result of inadequate drainage and the bricks being constantly wet during the winter. Judging by the construction the house appears to have been built in the 60’s/70’s or even the 50’s, so not really surprising. I don’t think I’d fair too well standing in a bucket of cold water for weeks at a time… And as ever everything is disappointingly built down to a price so bare that in mind… Good luck.
View on Reddit #74627077

boltsNBytes@reddit

There's definitely some erosion going on due to water splashing back up. You can see the bricks are all rounded on the edges. That's certainly part of the story but I can't comment on subsidence
View on Reddit #74626620

Low_Wolverine_2818@reddit

That corner where the bricks are blown is a major red flag, I don’t have any formal education in engineering or architecture I’m just a layman, the concrete done there was clearly laid after the ware on those bricks, so why wasn’t it all replaced, which would make me question how good was the under pinning, why would you put concrete right up against a brick wall like that, it encourages rising damp. I would not touch this unless you are willing to undertake the work to fix it
View on Reddit #74626578

TheBrassDancer@reddit

You need a surveyor and/or structural engineer to investigate this.
View on Reddit #74625821

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Engineer is coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning next week thanks
View on Reddit #74626568

PaulaDeen21@reddit

No idea, you pay a surveyor for this reason.
View on Reddit #74625690

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Engineer is coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning next week. Thought I’d ask mainly about the brickwork for some more insight
View on Reddit #74626017

Sorbicol@reddit

r/DIYUK is pretty good at this stuff. Ask there.
View on Reddit #74626535

PaulaDeen21@reddit

Then just see what they say. A Reddit comment can’t influence whether you do or do not buy this house. Good luck with the move.
View on Reddit #74626128

FinalEdit@reddit

No no no, we ask chat gpt then when we don't get an answer we like, we ask reddit. It's how it's always been done.
View on Reddit #74625803

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Engineer is coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning next week. Didn’t realise it was illegal to ask for some insight beforehand like
View on Reddit #74626408

FinalEdit@reddit

sorry mate I was just having a bit of a laugh - no harm intended
View on Reddit #74626436

onionsofwar@reddit

This is why land registry should also register structural changes and repairs. What was wrong, what was done, what was the outcome, with photos. We have the tech for it.
View on Reddit #74626401

focalac@reddit

If you’re too cheap to pay a surveyor to get a proper report, I’d strongly recommend buying the house. Let us know how it goes.
View on Reddit #74625664

ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
View on Reddit #74626210

Own_Initiative_6243@reddit (OP)

Engineer is coming to do a structural report. They start excavation to check the underpinning next week. Thought I’d ask for some insight before hand. Thanks for the comment….
View on Reddit #74625949

YouWascallyWabbit@reddit

Ask r/HousingUK and r/DiyUK but personally I wouldn't touch it. Each to their own though.
View on Reddit #74625335

THEROTHERHAMKID@reddit

Not really anything to worry about them old rustic bricks always seem to perish especially low level Risk renewing the bricks is breaking the old dpc as it then has to be lapped preferably 150mm
View on Reddit #74624453

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View on Reddit #74623264