Didcot
To chat about today's news and issues visit the Didcot forum
| NEWS |  | | | | | OXFORD UNITED | | | | | | CRICKET | | | | NEWS | | |
|
|
|
Sinking home traps couple
A COUPLE, who are trapped in a sinking house they cannot sell, say they are facing financial ruin.
Jane and Chris Allum bought their first home together in Wensum Drive, Didcot, in 2003, not knowing it was subsiding.
Estate agents said that even if the 17-year-old Wimpey-constructed house is repaired, they would be lucky to sell it and they would lose thousands of pounds in profit if they did.
The Allums were told, if not for the defects, it should be worth more than £190,000 - about £50,000 more than they paid for it.
But 18 months ago the pair noticed huge cracks appearing in the walls of the two-bed semi-detached house.
They discovered the previous owners had had to underpin the foundations to stop the house subsiding - but no one told them.
Mrs Allum, 27, who is self-employed, understands that the house was underpinned just a few years after it was built.
She said: "My husband and I are desperate to start a family. We are approaching our second wedding anniversary in May and believed that by now we would be settled in our family home, perhaps with our first child. Yet we are trapped.
"All our money went into this property. In the four years we have lived here we have not made a penny, while house prices around us have soared.
"We cannot consider bringing a child into this stressful situation when our financial future is so uncertain. Moreover, we don't even know if our home is safe. Nobody seems to care.
"The stress is indescribable. It's on our minds every minute of the day."
A basic homebuyers survey, carried out by the mortgage company, failed to uncover the house's chequered past and the couple did not pay for a full structural survey.
Mrs Allum said: "It was 12 years old and we thought what could possibly happen. All our money went into our deposit."
A Wimpey spokesman said the problem was now in the hands of the National House Building Council, a warranty provider for all newly built homes in the UK.
He said: "The subsidence pre-dates Mr and Mrs Allum's ownership of the property and clearly if they were unaware of this when purchasing the home then this is a matter they need to raise with their solicitor and surveyor.
"In the meantime, we are offering Mr and Mrs Allum every support and are in regular contact with them to ensure the matter is resolved to a satisfactory conclusion."
A spokesman for the NHBC said: "Following contact from Mr and Mrs Allum, with the assistance of a specialist contractor, we have undertaken extensive investigations to establish the cause of the problem affecting their home.
"We are currently in the process of preparing a scheme for repair of Mr and Mrs Allum's home and hope to be able to commence repairs shortly."
It appears the Wensum Drive house is not the first to have suffered problems on the estate. Two years ago in Weavercroft, three homes were demolished and re-built because of foundation problems caused by the roots of a nearby tree.
1:52pm Friday 25th April 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Jillian Harmer, Didcot on 7:39am Sat 26 Apr 08
The dishonesty of the seller hasn't been emntioned here. They had a duty under law to declare any work they had undertaken. This is a frustrating situation to be in. Insurers do play games with people trying to insure properties previously underpinned,and perhaps this is why the vendor failed to mention it.However,having bought a previously under-pinned house which has since been stable for 20 years I'm sad to hear the Allums' house is still moving.
A home-buyers survey should have detected any structural defect.
Good luck to the Allums as they nevigate their way through the legal quagmire.
The dishonesty of the seller hasn't been emntioned here. They had a duty under law to declare any work they had undertaken. This is a frustrating situation to be in. Insurers do play games with people trying to insure properties previously underpinned,and perhaps this is why the vendor failed to mention it.However,having bought a previously under-pinned house which has since been stable for 20 years I'm sad to hear the Allums' house is still moving.
A home-buyers survey should have detected any structural defect.
Good luck to the Allums as they nevigate their way through the legal quagmire.
Posted by: anon, wallingford on 11:47am Mon 28 Apr 08
There's a moral there....spend the extra and get the full survey done.....
There's a moral there....spend the extra and get the full survey done.....
Posted by: andrew, didcot on 4:22pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Its not the first and it wont be the last one to start cracking. I rented a house on ladygrove 3 years ago and there were huge cracks. The owner got the decorators in to cover evrything up and sold it. Also i know of another house a 4 bed detached which has had to be under pinned. Suppose thats what you get for building on a marsh. I remember when they were building some of the houses up by the railway line and they had pumps running 24 hrs a day to try and pump the water out of the footings.
Its not the first and it wont be the last one to start cracking. I rented a house on ladygrove 3 years ago and there were huge cracks. The owner got the decorators in to cover evrything up and sold it. Also i know of another house a 4 bed detached which has had to be under pinned. Suppose thats what you get for building on a marsh. I remember when they were building some of the houses up by the railway line and they had pumps running 24 hrs a day to try and pump the water out of the footings.
Posted by: Alice, Mrs Allum's mother, Wantage on 3:39pm Thu 1 May 08
This article fails to mention the general unhelpfulness of both Wimpey and the NHBC. Wimpey have washed their hands of the problem, and the NHBC are rude and uncommunicative. Mr and Mrs Allum have been waiting for over a year already to hear of some sort of solution. Indeed, a solution may not be possible, considering the house started to sink within a year of it being built. Yes, the ground is marshy and there is an oak tree nearby, but Wimpey surely have the expertise to build suitable foundations. Do we really want this company to build more houses in Didcot?
This article fails to mention the general unhelpfulness of both Wimpey and the NHBC. Wimpey have washed their hands of the problem, and the NHBC are rude and uncommunicative. Mr and Mrs Allum have been waiting for over a year already to hear of some sort of solution. Indeed, a solution may not be possible, considering the house started to sink within a year of it being built. Yes, the ground is marshy and there is an oak tree nearby, but Wimpey surely have the expertise to build suitable foundations. Do we really want this company to build more houses in Didcot?
Posted by: Voice of Reason, Didcot (Non Marshland Zone) on 11:43pm Thu 1 May 08
Where to begin! "Sinking home traps couple" this sort of headline is typical of your hysteria based tabloid! As I understand from the article, two people bought a house in Ladygrove (a housing estate built on a marshland) and subsequently they have discovered that the house that they have bought is subsiding.My first thought on this point is that surely this is hardly surprising given the location of the housing estate.Then I read that this poor hard done by couple didn't bother to pay for a full structural survey! Given the area of land on which this house was built, one would think that the first thing you would do when buying a house in Ladygrove is pay for a full structural survey! That aside (if that is not enough) according to your article "they cannot sell" then later on you say "they would be lucky to sell it and they would lose thousands of pounds in profit if they did". So let me get this right, the couple that are trapped in this"sinking home" haven't actually lost anything that they had, all that they have "lost" is profit on this home which in effect is something they never tangibly had! I have had an absolute gut full of whingeing, whining, self pitying poor hard done by creatures like "The Allums" bemoaning their situation. " The stress is indescribable. It's on our minds every minute of the day." For God's sakes woman, get a grip, take a little look around the world in which you live, and learn to appreciate what you have (a secure relationship,despite your whining, a desire to bring a child into the world and a roof over your head!" There are many poor unfortunate people upon this planet we share who dont have enough food to keep them alive, let alone a roof over their heads! Put it this way,you are going to have to wait a hell of long time before we have a "Ladygrove Idiot's House Subsidence Relief Campaign" day where everybody will donate money and buy a "Ladygrove Dunce Hat" in aid of your stupidity! I dont mean to sound to harsh but at the end of the day your self induced problems are way down the list!xx[italic]italic[/italic]
Where to begin! "Sinking home traps couple" this sort of headline is typical of your hysteria based tabloid! As I understand from the article, two people bought a house in Ladygrove (a housing estate built on a marshland) and subsequently they have discovered that the house that they have bought is subsiding.My first thought on this point is that surely this is hardly surprising given the location of the housing estate.Then I read that this poor hard done by couple didn't bother to pay for a full structural survey! Given the area of land on which this house was built, one would think that the first thing you would do when buying a house in Ladygrove is pay for a full structural survey! That aside (if that is not enough) according to your article "they cannot sell" then later on you say "they would be lucky to sell it and they would lose thousands of pounds in profit if they did". So let me get this right, the couple that are trapped in this"sinking home" haven't actually lost anything that they had, all that they have "lost" is profit on this home which in effect is something they never tangibly had! I have had an absolute gut full of whingeing, whining, self pitying poor hard done by creatures like "The Allums" bemoaning their situation. " The stress is indescribable. It's on our minds every minute of the day." For God's sakes woman, get a grip, take a little look around the world in which you live, and learn to appreciate what you have (a secure relationship,despite your whining, a desire to bring a child into the world and a roof over your head!" There are many poor unfortunate people upon this planet we share who dont have enough food to keep them alive, let alone a roof over their heads! Put it this way,you are going to have to wait a hell of long time before we have a "Ladygrove Idiot's House Subsidence Relief Campaign" day where everybody will donate money and buy a "Ladygrove Dunce Hat" in aid of your stupidity! I dont mean to sound to harsh but at the end of the day your self induced problems are way down the list!xx
Posted by: billy loads of mates, evenload drive on 3:51pm Fri 2 May 08
Harsh....?
Do you sleep in a Nazi uniform???
Why don't you get somebody to burgle and rob this Unfortunate couple or maybe pen a spiteful comment?You must be a very wise owl indeed.Have you got any mates?A dunces hat would never fit your big head!!!lol
Harsh....?
Do you sleep in a Nazi uniform???
Why don't you get somebody to burgle and rob this Unfortunate couple or maybe pen a spiteful comment?You must be a very wise owl indeed.Have you got any mates?A dunces hat would never fit your big head!!!lol
Posted by: No Sympathy, Right side of the tracks. on 7:05pm Fri 2 May 08
Unfortunate couple or victims of their own stupidity?
Billy loads of mates, I think it's you who should have a dunces hat placed firmly upon your head as you are unable to spell YOUR OWN ADDRESS correctly.
Unfortunate couple or victims of their own stupidity?
Billy loads of mates, I think it's you who should have a dunces hat placed firmly upon your head as you are unable to spell YOUR OWN ADDRESS correctly.
Posted by: billy loads of mates, evenlode drive! on 11:24am Sat 3 May 08
Ah fell for my trap!( Auto spell check)Staying in on a Friday playing with your keyboard?Hope you're having lodes/loads of fun.Now get back on your soap box Adolf!!!!
Can't wait to see you on Countdown.I'll recognise you because of your little "tash" and the big head!
Ah fell for my trap!( Auto spell check)Staying in on a Friday playing with your keyboard?Hope you're having lodes/loads of fun.Now get back on your soap box Adolf!!!!
Can't wait to see you on Countdown.I'll recognise you because of your little "tash" and the big head!
Posted by: No Sympathy, Right side of the tracks. on 4:00pm Sat 3 May 08
You have to spell-check your own address?
I suggest you stop 'playing with your keyboard' until you learn basic literacy.
You have to spell-check your own address?
I suggest you stop 'playing with your keyboard' until you learn basic literacy.
Posted by: billy loads of mates on 9:35am Sun 4 May 08
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Posted by: Dr Doolittle, W@ntage on 10:11pm Mon 5 May 08
Whilst I do sympathise with the Allums I do agree with Billy loads of mates.. They should of had a full structural survey done its common knowledge that these house are built a marsh, As for Mrs Allums comments " its on our minds every minute of everyday" it should be.. but your only in this situation as u tried to save a few pennies by not having the correct survey done.. you both appear to be begging the general public for pity well Im sorry for what your going though but its your own fault !!
Publicising your plight in the hope that it will hurry the the NHBC along i fear will do no good at all... if it bothers you that much sell up get what you can and started again elsewhere or get it under pinned !!!
Whilst I do sympathise with the Allums I do agree with Billy loads of mates.. They should of had a full structural survey done its common knowledge that these house are built a marsh, As for Mrs Allums comments " its on our minds every minute of everyday" it should be.. but your only in this situation as u tried to save a few pennies by not having the correct survey done.. you both appear to be begging the general public for pity well Im sorry for what your going though but its your own fault !!
Publicising your plight in the hope that it will hurry the the NHBC along i fear will do no good at all... if it bothers you that much sell up get what you can and started again elsewhere or get it under pinned !!!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
