We bought an edwardian semi about 18 months ago and after moving in discovered we have a stream running under the property from the back left corner and out through the front right under the porch. In normal weather this has not really been an issue but following the torrents of rain we have had it is now pooling at the front and coming up through the drive. It has obviously done this in the past before we bought it as you can see the indentation its caused on the drive. This was never picked up on the survey which was a full one which we had done. We have written to the surveyors who are now coming out to reinspect but does anyone know where we would stand on this so I can be prepared what to expect etc ???
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Stream under the hous
- Thread starter SharonG
- Start date
Penners
Member
- Messages
- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
Do you mean where do you stand as regards the stream, or as regards the surveyor?
If the former, then if the stream has been there since Edwardian times, I don't imagine it's too much to worry about. You just need to make sure that you create and maintain a good run-off route for the water, once it has passed under the house. Could you pipe it to a nearby ditch?
If the latter, then it's a difficult question. If the survey was carried out in dry weather, and there was no sign of the stream at the time, you can hardly expect the surveyor to have spotted it, or checked it out.
Remember that surveyors don't have X-ray vision.
If the former, then if the stream has been there since Edwardian times, I don't imagine it's too much to worry about. You just need to make sure that you create and maintain a good run-off route for the water, once it has passed under the house. Could you pipe it to a nearby ditch?
If the latter, then it's a difficult question. If the survey was carried out in dry weather, and there was no sign of the stream at the time, you can hardly expect the surveyor to have spotted it, or checked it out.
Remember that surveyors don't have X-ray vision.
chuckey
Member
- Messages
- 883
- Location
- wenslydale
Bit OT, but I looked at a property in Burtersett Nr. hawes, it was a 3 bedroomed end of terrace with its front door at first floor level, with a walkway running past about 4 other houses in the terrace. In its ground floor, which was like a cellar even though its above ground level, there was a proper stream roughly covered with loose flagstones and one corner of this room was a rock. Imagine a ball 30 feet diameter, with a quadrant visible, this would describe the rock. When they built the terrace they looked at this rock and said "we will leave that one!". Never bought the house, the estate agents lass just did not want to sell it to us, made all sorts of excuses. It went for £55,000 in 2000, worth say, £250k now?
Interresting though.
Frank
Interresting though.
Frank
Andrew Bodenham
Member
- Messages
- 441
- Location
- North Lancs
An opportunity to create an interesting garden water feature?
Seriously though, you're going to have to live with this and see how it works out. If it's a problem then some creative drainage may be required. If it's only surfacing after very heavy rain then maybe do nothing. Do you have solid or suspended floors in the house?
Only time will tell if you need to take action.
In my experience building surveyors can only be expected to report obvious visible faults, so I don't think you'll really have any complaint against them. The vendors, however, should have declared the problem, so it might be worth talking to the solicitor who handled the sale for you. Good to work out what you want first, though - compensation, revenge, money back, somebody to make it go away? In reality you're probably just going to live with it, whilst seeking good technical solutions to any associated problems.
Seriously though, you're going to have to live with this and see how it works out. If it's a problem then some creative drainage may be required. If it's only surfacing after very heavy rain then maybe do nothing. Do you have solid or suspended floors in the house?
Only time will tell if you need to take action.
In my experience building surveyors can only be expected to report obvious visible faults, so I don't think you'll really have any complaint against them. The vendors, however, should have declared the problem, so it might be worth talking to the solicitor who handled the sale for you. Good to work out what you want first, though - compensation, revenge, money back, somebody to make it go away? In reality you're probably just going to live with it, whilst seeking good technical solutions to any associated problems.