Found water under the house, only got the house keys less than a week ago.

A question about : Found water under the house, only got the house keys less than a week ago.

Hi,
I'm new to the website so if I have posted this in the wrong section or someone has posted something similar I apologise in advance.

Just recently purchase a house got the keys on the 8th January, I was speaking to the next door neighbour who warned me there was water under the house as he has found the same problem in his home, he mentioned he notified the previous home owner but he did not do anything about it, so I was curious to find out if this was true.

I took carpet out removed piece of floorboard from the 1st reception room and it was confirmed there is water under the house. Now from what I can see the water was quite low down but there was plenty of it.

My two major concerns are obviously what impact this water has on the house and how to fix it.

Secondly if the previous owner has known about this issue of water under the house from the next door neighbour who confirmed to me he told him and hence why he got the house decorated for a quick sale then am I legally entitled to challenge the sale of the house? Or can I legally ask the previous owner to repair the damage?

Any advice will be welcomed.

Thanks

Best answers:

• What did your survey have to say about the water ........ you did have one didn't you !!
• Most surveys wouldn't have picked up on the water unless it had started to rise up the walls, especially if it was only visible with the floorboards up.
  If you can prove that the previous owner was aware of the problem (A sworn statement from your neighbour would certainly help), then you would have a very good chance of winning legal action.
  I know that the following link isn't legal advice, but it's very similar to your case.
  https://www.proinspect.co.uk/2008/11/...idden-defects/
  Quote:
• Survey didnt find anything as this wasnt visible, no markings on the wall for damp either.
  I have read the article in the link some quite useful information there, i'll contact my solicitor tomorrow lets see what he says the only issue might be will the neighbour be prepared to make a statement.
  I work for a construction firm but I'm no builder or anything like that I work in the IT department, I have asked few of the chaps in the office today and they think it may be a case of Water Table taking into consideration the length of void from the floorboards to the underground or it may be an under ground drainage issue.
  I spoke to Severn Trent the water company today and they claimed they wont do anything as the issue is under the house not outside but i said what if it was leak from service pipe coming into the house but they were adamant it wasnt their problem. I may call them back asking them to look into it further. I also contacted the Local council today detailing the issue waiting for feedback from them.
  Now chatting to few construcion managers at work they mentioned i may have get a sump installed to release the water back out? is this an expensive job to do or something i could do myself? if its worst then that i may have to look into finding a drainage route for the water out the house into a drainage route is that something the council can help me with?
• Why not see if someone in the firm that you work for could recommend a building surveyor.
  I'm sure that they must know of a reputable person who could give you proper advice (hopefully at trade rates).
  IMO, simply installing a pump won't achieve much as you need to find where the water is coming from and get the root of the problem sorted out.
• We had this problem with our house when we moved in. Make sure it isn't anything to do with a leak but, as next door has the same problem, it's likely to be the height of the water table.
  We took up some boards, dug a hole and used a pump to clear the water. The amount used to vary depending on the rainfall. It could be quite dry until we had some heavy rain and then there could be six inches of standing water under the floorboards. The water would eventually drain away but it obviously made the house colder and damper.
  We have now solved the problem by having concrete floors put in with a thick layer of insulation. That has made a big difference to the house.
• Nope, she wasn't told when she bought it (some 25 years ago so I guess that things are different now in terms of disclosing things) we found out during the first snow melt after we moved in
  What I meant really, is that depending on what the cause is, then it may be that a pump is the only suitable option really.
• Hi, Thanks for all your response greatly appreciated.
  Update from me as follows
  Council response is below
  'Mr Akhtar,
  Thank you for your e mail regarding the above subject.
  The issue regarding water under your suspended floor is not uncommon in this and other areas throughout the city.
  Some home owners live with the situation, some are not aware of the situation and some householders attempt to rectify the situation.
  My advice to you would be to employ a private RICS qualified Building Surveyor and seek advice as to what you could do or not as the case may be.
  Unfortunately the City Council does not offer a service to help you regarding this matter.
  Regards,
  Jim Goddard
  Technical Manager
  Building and Consultancy Services'
  I have a colleague from work coming to inspect the house tomorrow, i will have better idea of how bad the problem and how costly it will be to fix.
  Today i spoke to a lawyer friend of mine who said contact the surveyor this should have been picked up by them. At most the surveyor IMO should have done a moisture test to check the walls but i don’t believe he has done this.
  The neighbour has put loads of concrete in his reception rooms that’s all I know will chat to him to find out precisely what he did and cost.
  I have Legal cover with my home insurance but I’m hesitant in contacting them in case they void my policy with them on the basis I have water under the house or they might not cover me, then I’ll be left with no insurance if something goes wrong when trying to rectify the issue.
• sorry for the late reply, over the weekend i managed to get the water out using a water pump which i hired from HSS this was on Saturday but water was back again on Sunday, its definitely ground water as it was clean. I have spoken to the survey company and they state this wasn't a fault on their part to have known about the water as its out of their scope of work for the type of survey the mortgage company and i had requested for but they are looking into it as a formal complaint from my self was made so they have to follow it up.
  I spoke to neighbour again and he states he will give me a statement to say he notified the previous owner of the issue, now is this enough for me to approach the previous owner of selling me the property that he knew had water under the house? Is this neglect ion and dishonesty on his part? Can i ask him to fund the cost of resolving the issue? If he denies everything do i have a legal case?
  Thanks
• The letter from the council indicates it's a common problem throughout your area. It's probably just groundwater. You would have to buy a pump and fit it so it activates if the water gets too high. I doubt the previous owner would be liable in any way for what is now your problem. Personally as the letter from council indicates I would just live with it.
• Its groundwater. If you are on clay its inevitable. You don't stand a chance pursuing the previous owner and are wasting your time as you have nothing to claim for. All the houses in the area will be affected in the same way and I'll bet your deeds say something about the guy uphill of you having right of drainage over your land as will the guy downhill of you.
  I've lived on London clay for 25 years, have the same (non) "issue", nobdy died, nobody has fallen sick and it doesn't affect property values.
  Do what everyone else does and live with it is my advice. Your neighbour is meddling - does he have a grudge against your vendor?
  Cheers
• The previous owner should have declared it. If you suffer loss as a result, then you could sue him. You would, as has been pointed out, need to be able to prove that he knew. However, it may not be worth bothering.
  Likewise the surveyor. Unless there were obvious signs that he missed, you have little chance there. Besides it was a mortgage company survey, so it was only a "Four walls and a roof and won't actually fall down while the mortgage is running" survey.
  Wet cellars and the like are not uncommon. The usual way to deal with that degree of water is to install a pipe and automatic pump. You can do it yourself and the cost is minimal. Just make sure that the waste water goes in the right direction and doesn't drown anyone else.
• Before I did anything else I would be tempted to get back to your Environmental Health Dept at the council and ask them to come and test whether it is sewage or tap water (they should have simple kits for this). If they are reluctant, just tell them it seems to smell.
  If this proves that there are no leaks involved your most likely solution would be a pump, or possibly some sort of "cut off" drain around the house.