survey result

[laface]

We want to buy a mid terrace victorian house built in 1900's.
The property is going on auction, we got a Homebuyers report which shows some evidence of movement. I am not an expert or builder, but was not sure if this needed major work. I did contact a structural surveyor but this would take ages as the auction is in 2 weeks time.
I really wanted advice on whether such things are common in houses of this age or shall I call it quits at this stage.
Any comments will be useful
Note: it is a mid terrace house- will I not sink with the neighbours?
Will I have problems reselling this house in years to come?

MOVEMENT:
Evidence of movement is seen in the form of cracking to the rear elevations along with some internal cracking to wall and ceiling surfaces, rucking of wallpaper and sloping floors, etc. It is not possible to say that further significant movement will not occur. From a single inspection further advice cannot be given and therefore you should seek specialist advice.
ACTION: prior to exchange of contracts you should instruct a structural engineer to provide a full report to identify cayse and extent of faults and remedial work to ensure further stability of the building......

ANY SUGGESTIONS???

 

[Shytalkz]

Movement as described on terraces of this type and age is not uncommon. The extent of remediation is dependent on the extent of movement and the ground conditions.

Phone a local SE to do a visual and verbal only for you, should cost you around £150 plus VAT and will give you an idea of likely costs for repairs, from which you can then decide on your upper limit.

 

[^woody^]

... "further advice cannot be given and therefore you should seek specialist advice."

Take the report, roll it up and then whack it edge on on the surveyors head.

Then ask him if he is not a specialist, then why is he masquerading as a surveyor

 

[Shytalkz]

That's because he - correctly - recognises that he's not sufficiently qualified, as a RICS, to design a scheme for remediation. For sure he can identify that there is a problem, but not what is the appropriate way to resolve it, or the design of the structural media used.

Surveyors are not capable of anything other than v simple structural design (and even that's questionable) and the one in the OP's post had the good sense to recognise that, as well as protecting his PII, of course.

Horses for courses, but it would also be beneficial to Joe Public if RICS stopped using the term "structural survey".

 

[jeds]

RICS haven't officially used the term 'structural survey' for years now. If the term is found anywhere in official publications I believe you are allowed to poke the author in the eye with a sharp stick.

Fact is it's not always feasible to assess structural movement from a single quick visual inspection. Often some monitoring over a period of time will be needed or maybe some opening up - i.e. removal of plaster, boards, etc. Although I agree a decent building surveyor, or structural engineer, should be able to give a good indication in most cases.

 

[^woody^]

A surveyor should be able to survey a building, ie determine what is wrong with it.

There is not much to go wrong in a terrace .... cracking will be indicative of the problem, and the range of problems to cause the cracking will be limited and easily determined.

Its nothing to do with designing remedial work. The causes will be limited and I dare say obvious based on the symptoms. Unless the answer is some exotic piled foundations, then there is no problem in determining what is wrong and how to fix it. Yes further investigation may be required, but the surveyor can do that if necessary

The OP's surveyor is dodging the work, not doing what he was engaged to do and causing the client more unnecessary expense. He notes movement but does not say if it seems to have occurred last week or last century. Nor does he note the significance of it. He just says movement, and it needs a further report

The RICS removed the phrase "structural survey" many years ago. And no surveyor should be doing a structural survey, but a survey of condition, or just building survey. But that is no to say that they should not comment on structural issues

 

[EddieM]

As with all things in life caveat emptor, unless you can get a full structural survey from a qualified engineer, you will be taking a risk, what that risk is is unknown unless you have a full structural. One of the reasons auctioned houses are cheaper.

 

[Shytalkz]

Limited? How so? They will be no different from the range of issues which can affect any other property. Movement to victorian terraces is not limited to leaking drains at the rear corner of the rear annex you know .

How would a surveyor identify a sandpipe, or solution feature? How would said surveyor - if by a miracle having identified it and not put it down to leaking drains - resolve it?

Btw the OP is quoting but one section of the report there...