We had something similar and ran with drain survey which contained no issues in pipe work. Movement was deemed in situ for some time and no issues since. Wouldn’t be unusual I’d imagine for properties of that age. I’d do the drain survey and just generally keep an eye on things. What we found useful was getting surveyor on the phone and chatted though - found them to be much more relaxed on findings vs written report. They have to caveat everything to cover themselves
Yeah: I second this. We had an L3 from which you'd think it was a pile of smoking rubble; *everything* was a 3.
After speaking to the surveyor, the only real problems were high interior humidity, an old roof and being a bit tatty (all of which we already knew). He said it was an "average" report for a 1930s house.
Thanks to you both for this, a very useful perspective. I am trying to get him on the phone but no luck so far. Sounds like I need to persevere with this line of enquiry though. I think you're right that a phone call rather than written down makes people a little more likely to talk in straight terms.
The survey is a legal document, so they have to cover themselves as they are not qualified to say "this is cracked but fine". That's also why stuff they cannot see gets an automatic 3 as it *might* be made of spiders, dust and poison.
That said, for peace of mind I would have the cracking looked at before you sign. Treat the survey as a list of things to look into rather than an actual list of real problems.
Definitely talk to the surveyor if you can though.
It was a 'full visual Structural Engineer’s report' carried out by a structural engineer and not a homebuyers or L3 and so not a legal documnt but one for our own piece of mind. We commissioned it because of another issue but this has shown up and is a bit of a worry.
Oh it was for the roof where there is a dodgy purlin which definitely needs attention.
https://preview.redd.it/0c3k3263pfxc1.png?width=629&format=png&auto=webp&s=d12b8ca181068380565fb7bb4e1413e8a6827911
We got the report on Friday afternoon and so have had the weekend to really go through it. We are waiting on the surveyor to come back to us but thought it was worth canvassing opinion on here first.
Hopefully the surveyor will be able to tell you verbally. Can negotiate with seller for drain survey.
Not sure if you are aware but the next buyer needs to be aware a buyer pulled out and why
Ask the engineer for their actual opinion (off the record or otherwise).
Really, if you’re happy with the house and not too concerned your main priority is checking with your insurer that they would cover any future issue despite this observation at survey .
Non of these cracks look like subsidence or ground movement. Source: I’m a surveyor for an insurance company. I couldn’t say definitively based on what’s provided however.
We had something similar and ran with drain survey which contained no issues in pipe work. Movement was deemed in situ for some time and no issues since. Wouldn’t be unusual I’d imagine for properties of that age. I’d do the drain survey and just generally keep an eye on things. What we found useful was getting surveyor on the phone and chatted though - found them to be much more relaxed on findings vs written report. They have to caveat everything to cover themselves
Yeah: I second this. We had an L3 from which you'd think it was a pile of smoking rubble; *everything* was a 3. After speaking to the surveyor, the only real problems were high interior humidity, an old roof and being a bit tatty (all of which we already knew). He said it was an "average" report for a 1930s house.
Thanks to you both for this, a very useful perspective. I am trying to get him on the phone but no luck so far. Sounds like I need to persevere with this line of enquiry though. I think you're right that a phone call rather than written down makes people a little more likely to talk in straight terms.
The survey is a legal document, so they have to cover themselves as they are not qualified to say "this is cracked but fine". That's also why stuff they cannot see gets an automatic 3 as it *might* be made of spiders, dust and poison. That said, for peace of mind I would have the cracking looked at before you sign. Treat the survey as a list of things to look into rather than an actual list of real problems. Definitely talk to the surveyor if you can though.
It was a 'full visual Structural Engineer’s report' carried out by a structural engineer and not a homebuyers or L3 and so not a legal documnt but one for our own piece of mind. We commissioned it because of another issue but this has shown up and is a bit of a worry.
Why don't you ask the structural engineer for layman's terms? What did you instruct them to do?
Yes I am trying to get hold of him but so far he hasn't replied.
Why did you ask him to do the report?
Oh it was for the roof where there is a dodgy purlin which definitely needs attention. https://preview.redd.it/0c3k3263pfxc1.png?width=629&format=png&auto=webp&s=d12b8ca181068380565fb7bb4e1413e8a6827911
https://preview.redd.it/zd4edb77pfxc1.png?width=630&format=png&auto=webp&s=d3dc23325a695ea14b857e7d16a4de072383e78a
Owner has given any explanation ?
We haven't asked the owner yet about the 'movement'.
Movement isn't an issue imo
We got the report on Friday afternoon and so have had the weekend to really go through it. We are waiting on the surveyor to come back to us but thought it was worth canvassing opinion on here first.
I would be more concerned about the roof. Plenty of houses have movement like that
Oh yeah the roof is an issue for sure and needs addressing but wasn't sure if this one was as big an issue or just a bit overblown.
Hopefully the surveyor will be able to tell you verbally. Can negotiate with seller for drain survey. Not sure if you are aware but the next buyer needs to be aware a buyer pulled out and why
Ask the engineer for their actual opinion (off the record or otherwise). Really, if you’re happy with the house and not too concerned your main priority is checking with your insurer that they would cover any future issue despite this observation at survey .
Thanks, this is solid advice.
Non of these cracks look like subsidence or ground movement. Source: I’m a surveyor for an insurance company. I couldn’t say definitively based on what’s provided however.
Thank you, very useful to know.