Buying a house that's been underpinned

3 years ago

hello! We are currently in the process of buying a house and the environmental search has come back with several issues.
The house looks onto a football field and park, which transpores was once the site of a chalk mine, then a landfill in the late 1800s. This means the area has a serious subsidence risk as well as potential contaminated land. We have been told the green land itself can never be built on for this reason.
We have subsequesntly discovered the house was in fact underpinned in 2007. We had llanned on extending the property but are now very nervous about buying the house and how this would affect re-sale value and insurance costs. It is quite dated so we had planned to do-it-up, adding value and sell in 5-10 years. But now I'm not sure we can add value 🙁
I wondered what other people would do in situation? Would you pull out now? Would you ask for more money off, especially as they were not forthcoming with info about the underpinning

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Comments (7)

Chris Jones
3 years ago
Go with your gut, if you’ve got doubts now and there’s a high level of risk, why take it?

Short term it might be a bit of a downer but in the long run you’ll be pleased you dodged the bullet and looked to invest elsewhere.
User
3 years ago
I'm no expert, but doesn't the fact that it's been underpinned mean it's stable. I used to live opposite an old landfill site, but never had any subsidence issues. It's nice that the land can't be built on.
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Sonia
3 years ago
My sister’s house had underpinning and they got it at a good discount. No one else would touch it. Sarah that is what my brother said (he’s a builder) and he said an underpinned house is usually a very stable house. They recently had an large extension built and there was no instability found. Emma, I think as the sellers are being a bit shifty I would get a survey done. When searches are done any underpinning would surely come up? I would also negotiate an appropriate price, assuming you are still interested.
Emma
Original Author
3 years ago
thanks all for your advice, we will get a full structural survey done if we are to proceed. We aren't so worried about the structural integrity of the house, so long as we can be assured the underpinning was carried out correctly, the main concern is re-selling in the future. It does make me feel very nervous 😬 It is hard to give up on a house at this stage as we had lots of plans for it but maybe the sensible option is to walk away.
Jonathan
3 years ago
People are sometimes concerned about recent movement or recent underpinning in case it moves again. But you should be vigilant rather than concerned about 13 year old movement. A surveyor should help identify any movement since 2007.

Underpinning basically means the foundations were made deeper and stronger. The solicitor will find out more information from the seller- ideally the job was done through the buildings insurer and is guaranteed. However guarantees don’t last for ever so it’s not imperative it has a guarantee- it’s important that the information from the solicitor is enough to satisfy buildings insurers (you may need to use an insurance broker to bypass all the insurers who don’t get involved with this kind of thing). You may also want to satisfy yourself how costs may be higher for this house.... for instance your insurance might cost more.... any extension might need deeper more expensive foundations and so the price you pay might need to reflect this.
Philip S
3 years ago
I wouldn't touch it at all, especially if you have thoughts of extending.
cannonja
3 years ago
Don't walk away

RUN 🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️

Studied structural mechanics and geology as an engineer,

Basically if it was a greenfield site, soil investigations would determine the required foundations.
However underpinning is a response to inadequate foundations and in some cases isn't a permanent remedy due to inherent problems below the subsoil

From your indications, I would say that piled foundations would have been needed to alleviate any risks of subsistence

I would pursue other properties , this could financially cripple you, you might never to able to sell it again.

Its a wonder the banks are willing to give a mortgage on the property.
I would keep my powder dry !!

Buying a house that's been underpinned

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Chris Jones

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Buying a house that's been underpinned

Comments (7)

Chris Jones

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