How to Sell a House with Structural Problems in the UK

The ground under your home can move and shift.

This causes subsidence, which means the earth is sinking down. Your house foundation might crack or move with it. You’ll see cracks in walls that get bigger over time.

Doors might stick or not close right. The whole house can settle unevenly, making floors slope and walls lean.

Walls hold up your entire home.

When they crack, bow out, or lean, your house becomes unsafe. Load-bearing walls carry the weight of the floors and the roof above them. You might see long cracks running up walls or bulging outward.

This happens when the wall can’t handle the weight anymore.

Your roof protects everything below it.

The wooden beams that hold up your roof can weaken over time. Water damage, age, or too much weight can cause problems. Look for sagging areas in your ceiling or brown stains from water.

Cracks that run across the ceiling are warning signs. A falling ceiling or roof is very dangerous.

Strong floors need good support underneath.

Floor joists are the wooden beams under your floorboards. When these get damaged, your floors start to sag or feel bouncy. You’ll notice creaking sounds when you walk around.

Furniture might wobble on uneven spots. These problems get worse if you don’t fix the joists underneath.

Beams and columns are like your home’s skeleton.

These big pieces of wood or metal hold up the main weight of your house. When they get weak or damaged, the whole building becomes unsafe. You might see cracks in wooden beams or rust on metal ones.

Some beams might sag in the middle from too much weight.

Water is wood’s worst enemy.

When moisture gets into the wooden parts of your home, it starts to rot them away. Dry rot spreads quickly and weakens the wooden structure. Look for soft, spongy wood that crumbles when you touch it.

Musty smells often give away hidden damp problems.

Fixing structural problems costs a lot of money upfront.

Major foundation work can cost £10,000 to £50,000 or more. Roof repairs might be £5,000 to £20,000. But fixing these problems usually adds value back to your home.

You might spend £15,000 on repairs and add £25,000 to your sale price. That’s a £10,000 profit.

But your profits can easily get eaten up…

You may have to move out and rent somewhere while the work takes place. The work can end up dragging on for another couple of months and costing more.

The issue is… You simply don’t know if it will add value until someone actually buys your house. 

It’s the unknown.

For a busy family, this isn’t always worth it.

Selling as-is means you get less money but keep cash in your pocket now. Buyers will want big discounts for structural problems. They’ll also have more power to negotiate your price down.

Structural repairs take months to complete.

Getting quotes, finding good builders, and doing the work properly takes time. Major foundation work might take 2-3 months. Roof repairs could take 4-6 weeks, depending on the weather.

If you need to sell quickly, repairs might not be possible.

Family emergencies, job moves, or money problems don’t wait for building work. When you urgently need to sell a house with structural problems, choosing a quick house buyer who knows what paperwork you need can close in just weeks or days.

Get a building expert to check any big problems first. They can tell you what’s dangerous and what can wait.

Problems you should fix: Small cracks in walls, tiny roof leaks, and easy repairs are good to fix. These don’t cost much money but make buyers feel safe about buying your house.

Problems you can leave alone: Big, expensive problems like the subsidence, replacing the whole roof, or lots of rot damage cost a lot of money to fix. Most buyers know these problems exist and will pay less money anyway. 

Many also like to pick their builders to fix things.

Just know if you leave big issues, you will get significantly less for your property. 

Remember: Some building problems can be dangerous or get worse fast. Really bad problems might make buyers not want your house at all, not just pay less money for it.

Fixed homes sell for closer to market value.

Buyers pay more when they don’t see problems or worry about future costs. Your home competes with other houses that don’t have obvious issues. Estate agents can market it to more buyers, too.

Unfixed structural problems reduce your sale price significantly.

Buyers might offer 15-30% less than market value for serious structural issues. They factor in repair costs plus extra money for their risk and hassle. Cash buyers who specialize in problem properties often pay even less but close much faster.

The key is being honest about your timeline and budget before deciding.

Fewer people want to buy homes with structural issues.

Most buyers get scared when they see foundation cracks or sagging roofs. They worry about repair costs and future problems. This means your house sits on the market much longer than normal homes.

Properties with structural problems can take 6-12 months to sell instead of the usual 3-4 months.

You’ll get fewer viewings and even fewer serious offers. Many buyers won’t even look at properties that mention structural issues. The normal timeline for selling a house gets much longer when problems exist.

Many estate agents don’t want to list problem properties.

These homes are harder to sell and take up more of their time. Some agents worry about their reputation if they can’t sell your house quickly. They might refuse to take you on as a client.

The agents who do take problem properties often charge higher fees.

They know these sales take more work and longer marketing periods. You’ll pay more in commission but still face all the same selling challenges.

Structural problems make viewings more complicated.

Some areas of your home might be unsafe for buyers to enter. You’ll need to warn people about dangers like weak floors or unstable ceilings. This puts buyers off before they even see the good parts of your house.

Insurance issues might restrict access to damaged areas.

You could face legal problems if someone gets hurt during a viewing. Many buyers won’t want to take risks walking through potentially dangerous spaces.

Buyers with structural concerns often pull out at the last minute.

They might get scared after surveys reveal more problems than expected. Mortgage lenders frequently refuse loans on properties with structural issues. This breaks chains and forces you to start the selling process all over again.

Multiple fall-throughs are common with problem properties.

Each failed sale costs you more time and money. You’ll pay for surveys, legal fees, and extended marketing costs. The stress of repeated disappointments takes its toll, too.

Problem properties need more marketing to attract buyers.

You’ll spend extra money on professional photos that hide issues or highlight good features. Extended advertising campaigns cost more as months go by. Some sellers pay for expensive structural reports to reassure buyers.

All these extra costs come with no guarantee of success.

You might spend thousands on marketing and still not find a buyer. Traditional selling methods work against you when your property has obvious problems that scare most people away.

Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.

This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse. 

Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?

We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.

When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!

You won’t face any costs with us.

We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.

Our team supports you through the whole selling process.

We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.

Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.

They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.

Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.

We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.

Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.

We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.

Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.

We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.