Property subsidence

Property expert David Leake of Housesetc covers all you need to know about property subsidence for any potential sellers.

There are few things that strike as much fear into buyers and sellers alike as subsidence.

Who would buy a property that was at risk of structural collapse? The good news is that it need not be a deal-breaker. Here are some top tips on buying and selling a house with subsidence.

For sellers selling a subsidence property, full disclosure is the best policy and, as you would do if your property had had problems with damp in the past, you will need to satisfy prospective buyers that you have dealt with the problem satisfactorily.

Spotting the first effects is often key – these become physically visible in the form of new and expanding cracks in plasterwork or exterior brickwork. Other tell-tale signs may include wallpaper ripping or doors or windows sticking – get a chartered surveyor to assess the situation.

Underpinning? In extreme cases, it can sometimes prove necessary to underpin the foundations– which can be a lengthy and expensive process, costing anything up to £50,000.