Load bearing wall removed 10-20 years ago but no BC certificate

[fourtytwo]

I bought a house several years ago and the seller answered NO to PIF 4.1 (any internal walls removed) and I was not given any certificates.
I have now discovered (yet to be confirmed by an SE) that a load bearing wall has been removed downstairs that ultimately would have supported cold water tanks in the loft, there is cracking in the upstairs portion of the wall together with the ceiling.
My question regards BC, if I ask them to search for certificates are they likely to give me a headache by insisting on immediate remedial work or declaring it unsafe and thus uninhabitable ?

 

[Notch7]

My question regards BC, if I ask them to search for certificates are they likely to give me a headache by insisting on immediate remedial work or declaring it unsafe and thus uninhabitable ?

I doubt they would care.

But I also doubt they have anything so your best bet is to find out what the upstairs portion of the wall is sitting on.

If you have carpet in one of the adjacent rooms, roll it back and take up a bit of floorboard and see what’s under the wall. If the joists run parallel to the wall you might be unlucky have one hiding your view.

Can you work out which way the joists run, that might help you learn a bit more. In terraces and semis they often run parallel to the roof rafters, but it all depends on design.

Usually front go back joists are done in 2 lengths, overlapping on a wall

Cracking in the wall and ceiling doesn’t mean much.

 

[fourtytwo]

I doubt they would care.

But I also doubt they have anything so your best bet is to find out what the upstairs portion of the wall is sitting on.

I agree it was just a faint hope!

If you have carpet in one of the adjacent rooms, roll it back and take up a bit of floorboard and see what’s under the wall. If the joists run parallel to the wall you might be unlucky have one hiding your view.

EDIT: I remember from having a rewire done the joists floorboards are perpendicular to the wall but I didn't take any notice of what was underneath at the time.

Can you work out which way the joists run, that might help you learn a bit more. In terraces and semis they often run parallel to the roof rafters, but it all depends on design.

Usually front go back joists are done in 2 lengths, overlapping on a wall

Cracking in the wall and ceiling doesn’t mean much.

Cracks are definitely growing, I repaired several last year but they have opened up again. I guess an SE is going to want to see under the wall too so looks like the carpet is coming up again then I can post some pics. I also plan to lower the level in the tanks to reduce weight.

 

[fourtytwo]

I managed to feel with a probe under the other side of the wall (airing cupboard) where there are some holes in the floor for pipes and that shows there is nothing under the wall, it is simply built on the floorboards (that cross under it). Nearest joist is about 3 inches away from one side. However further along the wall towards a right angle formed by the staircase load bearing wall there is a chimney that forms the rear wall of the airing cupboard, the breast below in the kitchen has been entirely removed although signs of this this removal cannot be seen at the back of the airing cupboard. Given the fairly shallow floor joists (maybe 7") there is not enough space for gallows brackets and nothing to rest a lintel on so I strongly suspect it is simply cut-off in the ceiling void. The chimney itself is fairly small about 500mm each side over the rendering and it only sticks out the roof by a mtr but it's entire weight would seem to be hanging off the otherwise unsupported (no return) end of a load bearing wall. There is a crack across the ceiling and a small one on the opposite wall that although not large is a recent appearance, OTH we did have an exceptionally dry summer! The water tanks abut the chimney on the unsupported side and simply sit on a couple of 4x2" binders, the chimney end being on an LB wall, for some reason there are two 30 Gal tanks there so 275Kgs, probably put in as there is a Mira pumped shower below but I think one would be adequate or alternatively only allow them to half fill (reduced head).
So the upshot is I think I panicked as it is only the chimney breast that has been removed rather than an entire wall, I am sure the edifice will survive with a little TLC and just patch up the cracks again.

Water tank platform floating end with binders under

Ceiling & wall cracks

Airing cupboard floor probing under wall through holes, I could see under but camera could not!

 

[^woody^]

My question regards BC, if I ask them to search for certificates are they likely to give me a headache by insisting on immediate remedial work or declaring it unsafe and thus uninhabitable

Not if you just ask for the history.

But it's likely out of time for any building control action regardless.