Buying a War Years Property

 

Why we always recommend having an independent building survey

Always have an independent building survey as this will pin point any property problems. Caveat emptor means buyer beware and is why you need to have a building survey to find out if there are any problems within the property; the estate agent certainly will not advise you of any.

Free phone 1stAssociated.co.uk on 0800 298 5424 for independent surveying advice.

Free phone 0800 298 5424

Meeting the Surveyor at the house during the Building Survey

Our building surveyor was happy to meet our client at the property during the survey report. We recommend to all our clients to meet face to face as then you get a full understanding of exactly what the client requires from the survey and answer any questions or issues they may have, equally they are happy to chat to you on the telephone.

 

Buying a War Years House

The property we surveyed was a two storey semi detached house which was amended and extended over the years with a roof extension and built during the War Years to the 1960’s. There was a garden to the front and rear with a garage and off road parking to the front.

During this time there was a rationing of materials and limited skilled labour available which can mean that sometimes there are unusual constructions hidden beneath what appears to be a typical construction.

 

Movement within the property

As our clients were able to meet us at the property we were able to identify and show them the problems within the property.

Immediately the surveyor could see that there were some structural movement to the rear of the property as a vertical hairline crack was visible within the extension wall. We advised our client to ask the existing owners to take out an insurance claim, advising that the cracking has been noted by a structural surveyor.  This usually means that the insurance company will carry out a monitoring exercise (the Building Research Establishment recommend monitoring any cracks for a minimum of one year).

crack-photo

Crack within the wall of the extension

 

Above average change of condensation

We also found a higher than average chance of condensation in the property partly due to the era in which it was constructed in and partly due to some of the alterations that had been carried out.

 

What do the ovals or circles in our building surveys mean?

Within our reports we utilise a system of ovals and circles to highlight problem areas or characteristics within a property to better explain the issues. If this does not explain the issue completely then we can also use one of our sketches that have been commissioned exclusively for us for use in the reports.

For example: This property was on a sloping site and had a suspended timber floor. We could see that some of the airbricks are acting as gutters as they were so low and a suspended timber floor also needs airflow underneath it to prevent wet rot.

sketch-airbrickactingasgutter

airbrick

protected-air-brick
Sketch of airbrick acting as a gutter
Airbrick acting as gutter
Sketch of protected airbrick

 

Many other problems

Many other problems were found in and around the property.

  1. Deterioration

We could see deterioration and movement to the roof tiles. They were covered with moss and areas where there face of the tiles were spalling and deteriorating.

2. Dated electrics

The electrics were old and dated and needed replacing. The Institute of Electrical Engineers standards (IEE) recommend a test and report whenever a property changes occupancy. This should be carried out by an NICEIC registered and approved electrical contractor or equivalent.
Costs for all this work would run into thousands of pounds.

deteriorating-roof-tiles

Deteriorating roof tiles

3. Asbestos to the garage roof

There was a garage in the rear garden and we recommended that it was removed as we were concerns that it contained asbestos.

In years gone by asbestos was commonly used as wood and can be found in all sorts of places. Asbestos was used post war until it was banned only in the UK relatively recently.

Our insurance company requires us to advise all clients that we are not asbestos surveyors and that you have your own asbestos survey carried out.

asbestos-garage
 
Asbestos garage and large tree nearby
4. Trees to the front and rear of the property

There was a large tree in the rear garden and to the front garden there were trees that had been cut back but not properly which needed reducing further.

5. DIY and maintenance required

We recommended general DIY and maintenance to be carried out.

 

Positioning radiators for better air movement

We mentioned earlier that this property had a higher than average chance of condensation. One of the factors that were contributing to this is that some of the radiators were not positioned under windows which gives a much better air movement and helps to reduce condensation.
sketch-airflow-radiator

 

Position radiators under windows for good air movement

 

The overall conclusion after the survey was completed

The surveyor unfortunately came to the conclusion that this was not a property to be taken on lightly and unless you are experienced in house refurbishments, i.e. a builder or property developer he would not recommend going ahead with the purchase. As our clients were not in this category it was recommended not go ahead and buy this house mainly due to the movement within the property and that there may be hidden problems with the extension as a whole.
It is very rare that our surveyors come to this conclusion and it just shows you the scale and cost of the problems within this house.

 

Compare our website and compare our surveys

Please feel free to have a look at our website 1stAssociated.co.uk to see for yourself the quality of our website, articles and Building Survey reports. We would also be happy to email you some examples of our reports, Schedules of Condition, Structural Surveys and Property Reports.

We pride ourselves on our professional standard and easy to read reports written in plain English which we have been carrying out for many years on every era, type and style of property across the UK. Property eras are most typically Tudor and Elizabethan, Georgian and Regency, Victorian and Edwardian, War Years, Post War Years, Modern and New.

 

Free phone us on 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat

We are more than happy to chat with you about any of the above. Call on our free phone number 0800 298 5424 to speak to a Building Surveyor or to get a Survey Quote.

 

All rights reserved to 1stAssociated

All rights to this article are reserved to www.1stAssociated.co.uk

 

 

building engineers

Home Buyers Reports Property Surveys - why we're the best. Engineers Reports
© Copyright 1stassociated.co.uk

1stassociated-logo-for-footer IVSA-badge IVSA-putting-client-first call-us-for-footer

We have thousands of free property articles to help you - or call us freephone on 0800 298 5424

We have been working in the property industry for many years and have been
providing free property articles for over ten years. All for free and to help you with buying your next property.

House and Home Surveys and Useful Information

All you need to know about Building Surveys

Building Control, what do they do?

Designers and Architects will they save me money or will they cost me money

Enviroment, Your Building and Garden Gnomes

Estate Agents help sell houses and work for the vendors

Have a Structural Survey to protect you against structural problems

Home improvements, builder problems and ideas for you on how to solve them

How a Surveyor values a property, Chartered Surveyors and Regulated Valuers

How Chartered Engineers and Building Engineers can help you

Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

NHBC National House Building Council

Structural Surveys and How We Can Help You

Traditional and Non-Traditional Houses and Mortgage Problems

Valuations and how much is the building worth?

Whats the difference between a Chartered Building Surveyor, Chartered Surveyor and an Independent Surveyor

Useful property problem articles by Chartered Surveyors explaining building issues to avoid

External - Helpful information on building problems on the outside of the property

Chimney issues and problems

Cracking and Movement Problems and Surveying Solutions

Flat Roof Problems, how we can solve them

Foundations and Structures and Settlement and Subsidence and Underpinning

Pitched Roofs Problems and Solutions

Roof Problems

Wall Problems

Windows and Doors and Fascias and Soffits and Wet Rot and Dry Rot and other problems

Internal - House problems we have investigated inside

All you ever need to know about floors

Asbestos in your home, what you need to know

Ceiling Cracks and Structural Problems

Condensation, Damp and Black Mould Problems

Cracking and Movement Problems and Surveying Solutions

Windows and Doors and Fascias and Soffits and Wet Rot and Dry Rot and other problems

Woodworm is it a problem or not? Is it active or not?

Services - Building help and advice on costly services

Drainage, what's underground can affect what's above ground

Heating; I just can't get my house warm enough or alternatively I just can't get my house cool enough

You can't mess around with the electric, you need an expert

 

Commercial Property Services

Building Terms Explained and Directories

Commercial Property Surveys

Commercial Structural Surveys

Leisure Facilites

Offices Large and Small

Shops and Retail

Warehouse and Industrial Buildings

Dilapidations Help and Advice What is a Dilapidations Notice?

A Beginner's Guide to Dilaps

Damp Mould and Condensation

Dampness Rising Damp Mould Black Mould Condensation

Dilapidations and Negotiations

Dilapidations Claim by a Landlord

Energy Saving what can I do?

Finance what is a Financial Adviser (We are not Financial Advisors)

Fire Risk and Help

Health and Safety Risks

Insurance how do I get the correct property insurance?

Landlords Surveying Advice

Property Investment how can I invest in property?

Property TV Reviews by an Independent Surveyor

Schedules of Condition Leasing a Commercial Property

Scotts Schedule and Section 18 Valuation

Tenants Surveying Advice

Weather how does weather affect my property?

Flooding

Rain

Snow and Ice

Strong Winds

Reviews from clients on Commercial Building Surveys

Churches and Charities, helpful reviews from our clients

Industrial Buildings and Warehouses and what our clients say about us

Offices Large and Small, reviews and feedback from our clients

Pubs, Restaurants, Hotels and other Leisure facilities we have surveyed over the years

Shops and Retail, helpful reviews from our clients

 

First Time Buyers

Buying a Leasehold or Shared Freehold Home

Buying and Selling Houses for the experienced house and home purchaser

First Time Buyers how do I go about buying my first house and home?

Improve your property knowledge with our presentations on house, homes and commercial property

Building Surveys

Building Surveying Useful Information

Dilapidations

Dilapidations Presentations in Detail

Final Year Building Surveying Exams for University Students or those that would like to know more

How old is your Building? Which era was it built in?

Party Walls

Surveyors and Design Tools

Disputes and Party Walls

Boundary Disputes

Building and Property Disputes

Party Wall Book Reviews

Party Walls Your Rights and Responsibilities

1stAssociated Surveyors Review for Structural Surveys and Building Surveys

Building Surveys, reviews and feedback from satisfied customers

Buy to let property clients, what they say about our structural surveys

Buying at auction, review of the survey

Buying bungalows and retirement properties and how our surveyors can help

Both at work / busy couples, how we can help and some 1stAssociated client reviews

Families with a young person flying the nest, reviews and feedback

First Time Buyers, what they say about us

Listed buildings, structural surveys

Older buildings, a review of buying an older house

Families with children looking for a new home, feedback and reviews

Buying a Non-Traditional Property

Residential Surveys

House and Home Surveys

Commercial Building Surveys

Commercial Surveys

1st Associated Surveyors Are Also Available in the Following Areas:

East Anglia and East

South and South East

West Country and South West

Midlands

North and North East

 

London

London Markets

London Parks

 

Wales

Areas of Britain

1stAssociated Independent Expert Property Surveyors

Specialists in Home Buyers Reports, Building Surveys and Structural Surveys and Schedules of Condition

All Surveyors are Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors qualified and RICS regulated

and are Members of the Independent Surveyors and Valuers Association

Putting the Client First

We do not accept service of documents by email or fax