We have lived in our terraced house almost 40 years. An elderly gentleman lived in the house next door and had done little to his property since it was built in the early 1900's. We have done work to make our house secure and had our drains repaired. However,we have a crack in our wall from the top of the roof right down through the loft where it is widest,down through the landing and kitchen where we have made attempts over the years when decorating to unsuccessfully fill it up. It is as if the tenement part of the building is being pulled away from the main part of the house. The next door property was eventually purchased by a young couple who obviously couldn't afford to do any major structural work and were unaware of our problem. They panelled their kitchen wall and paved outside and effectively covered any existing problems. Then they sold to a young single mother, who,after 11 yrs has put the house on the market again. I spoke to the estate agent assuming that someone would survey the house and wonder why part of it's staircase upstairs wasn't level. They weren't interested. Other houses in our road have been underpinned. We are concerned that if we ever wanted to sell it might be difficult with our unsightly crack. I would welcome any advice.
mamjet dont be so god damm rude. cockatiel although majet is right when they get a surveyor to look at it. I know you have asked estate agents but sometimes better to go to the top. xx
Thanks 4getmenot. You are the only one so far who has given any sensible advice. I'm not sure how much a surveyor would cost. I'm just hoping a surveyor will notice a problem and query it if he goes in next door. The house has changed hands 3 times since our elderly neighbour died and nobody has said anything yet.
It would be best for you to contact a Structural Surveyor, as they can advise what the problem is, how the problem has occurred and how to remedy the problem.
A Surveyor will only be able to advise that there is a problem (clearly you can see that), but would recommend you to speak to a Structural Surveyor.
I assume you have a buildings insurance policy. (If you haven't, then you really do have a problem!) Part of these policies is almost always to give cover against subsidence. So look at the policy & contact your insurer. They will send a surveyor and it won't cost you anything, but if work has to be done you will have to pay the excess (on most policies this is �1000)