survey on house - causing problems with insurer

[Soir]

Valuation Survey Report:
General condition of the property apprears consistant with its age and type of construction (1935 det) but some works of repair and maintanence are required and ageing are likely to require attention. Evidence of movement was noted in the form of genral distortions within the structure. The movement is considered to be long-standing in nature. It is assumed that extention works were carried out with LA approval. Property is of an age to be effected by cavity wall tie failure. This is a progressive defect and future remedial work may be required. localised dampness was noted at property. This does not materially effect its saleability or value. Precautionary testing of service installations is advised.

So the Lender asks me to have further survey done on cavity wall ties - Done and recommended we replace them and they want the house insurer to highlight they will cover the house before/after replacement CWT are done.

Insurer say fine, but can we see the valuation?
Sent but now insurer have refused to insure us because it say's MOVEMENT on the bloody report.
Surveyor tells me this is perfectly normal for this age of house and not a problem.

Insurance broker says they must disclose this to every insurer!! and because of this the premium will be double or may not insure

Is this right? every home 1930's will have some movement. It's mentioned on report but not as a problem...
I bet next door has the same thing but doesnt have to specifically mention it everytime he get home insurance?

Does anyone have any insurance experience? Do I need to disclose this irrelevant info? (the word just scares them, the context says it is fine, bloody surveyor shouldn't have mentioned it!)

[anonymous-user]

You may well need to get a structural survey done to confirm that any movement is now stable.

[Soir]

MonkeyMatt said:

You may well need to get a structural survey done to confirm that any movement is now stable.

Even if it is stable (historical movement, not progressive) it still hikes up the premium.
But not for joe bloggs next door who has lived there for years and has not been highlighted.


My mortgage lender told me it seems every survey that comes in these days for houses that are not brand new, ALL list movement on the report and wonders if this is a ploy/collaboration for the insuruers to charge more?

[Soir]

after reading the cracks caused by neighours tree thread I'm worried this 'movement' will be put in the subsidence category and maybe a problem to insure or even sell the house in the future

should I buy the bloody thing still?

1935 det house

[rovermorris999]

Try a more specialist insurer. I used to have a Grade II listed house which was all over the place. The whole house was at an angle and a couple of walls had bulged a little. The surveyor said no problem, long-standing movement. The insurance company was fine and the premium was reasonable. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the broker. Have a look in the back of period house-type magazines for some to try.
Out of interest, who checked the wall ties? A surveyor or some specialist company that have an interest in finding a problem?

Edited by rovermorris999 on Wednesday 14th October 16:58

[Soir]

rovermorris999 said:

Try a more specialist insurer. I used to have a Grade II listed house which was all over the place. The whole house was at an angle and a couple of walls had bulged a little. The surveyor said no problem, long-standing movement. The insurance company was fine and the premium was reasonable. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the broker. Have a look in the back of period house-type magazines for some to try.
Out of interest, who checked the wall ties? A surveyor or some specialist company that have an interest in finding a problem?

Edited by rovermorris999 on Wednesday 14th October 16:58

Valuation highlighted cav wall tie, but paid specialist surveyor £55 to investigate it further.

Seems shame to have to use a specialist insurer on a 1930's house which is the same as thousands in the area

Edited to add: your right, said specialist also has interest in fixing the problem. Prob hence lowprice!

Edited by Soir on Wednesday 14th October 19:01

[davidjpowell]

Soir said:

MonkeyMatt said:

You may well need to get a structural survey done to confirm that any movement is now stable.

Even if it is stable (historical movement, not progressive) it still hikes up the premium.
But not for joe bloggs next door who has lived there for years and has not been highlighted.


My mortgage lender told me it seems every survey that comes in these days for houses that are not brand new, ALL list movement on the report and wonders if this is a ploy/collaboration for the insuruers to charge more?

It's not a ploy, just that most houses of that age will have moved somewhere along the way, and Surveyors are generally getting tired of being sued. Surprised at the insurers attitude to be honest, I wonder if it is perhaps linked to the area - maybe historically high claim rate for structure failure etc

[rovermorris999]

Edited to add: your right, said specialist also has interest in fixing the problem. Prob hence lowprice!

And quite possibly hence the result of the survey! Ask a damp/woodworm company if your house needs treatment and guess what the answer would be? You either need to have someone with no interest in the result look at it or better still, find out yourself how to check so at least you know if it really does need doing.