Traditional Houses or Something Else?

BRE publication 469, 2004, ….’Non-Traditional Houses’ (cost £275) lists approximately 450 different types of dwelling, from the Shipston Aluminum where only one example was built, to the Easiform Type II where over 100,000 were constructed between 1920 and 1970.

Many types, such as Airey (26,000 examples); Cornish Units (30,000), Orlit (17,000) and Unity Types I and II (19,000) are designated “defective” under the Housing Defects Act 1984 (now part XVI of the Housing Act 1985) and are not regarded favourably for mortgage lending until repairs/upgrading have been completed under an approved scheme.

Others, such as the steel-framed Dorlonco, comprising elements of rendered EML and clinker block, or the Easiform Type II, of in-situ cast cavity concrete construction, have

problems and, whilst not designated ‘defective’ under the Act, are nevertheless regarded as poor security by most lenders and will be valued accordingly.

By way of example, BRE 469 describes Easiform Type II as affected by ….”complete carbonisation of concrete cover to dense RC external walls particularly in properties built before 1960″ meaning that any steel reinforcement, wall ties and the EML bonding between outer and inner leaves at joints between ‘lifts’, are likely to be corroded but difficult to assess when carrying out a non-invasive survey. Similar comments apply to the Dorlonco where the steel frame, which is concealed within the

structure and may not be obvious within a roof void, tends to suffer minor to severe corrosion of the RSJ stanchions, particularly at the bases, as well as corrosion of wall ties.

Type-identification and even recognition of some types of non-traditional housing can be difficult, particularly where roofs are of low-hipped construction and access within the void is limited. The matter becomes more complex where – in the case of Dorlonco houses – the outer walls are clad in stone or brick and initially can appear as traditional cavity construction.

Recognition of Easiform Type II can also be difficult, where outer walls superficially resemble cavity block construction except for being marginally thinner in width. Members are reminded, in a recessive market, to take care when inspecting former local authority housing stock, particularly when carrying out a survey on an unfamiliar estate. Anything that appears ‘odd’, or different, usually is. If in doubt, a call to the local Building Inspector or Council Housing Manager can often reveal useful information and save grief by

avoiding a possible PI claim for mis-description and over-valuation.

BRE publication 469, 2004, ….’Non-TraditionalHouses’ (cost £275) lists approximately 450different types of dwelling, from the Shipston stonAluminium where only one example was built, tothe Easiform Type II where over 100,000 wereconstructed between 1920 and 1970.Many types, such as Airey (26,000 examples);Cornish Units (30,000), Orlit (17,000) and UnityTypes I and II (19,000) are designated “defective”under the Housing Defects Act 1984 (now partXVI of the Housing Act 1985) and are notregarded favourably for mortgage lending untilrepairs/upgrading have been completed under anapproved scheme.Others, such as the steel-framed Dorlonco, comprising elements of rendered EML and clinkerblock, or the Easiform Type II, of in-situ cast cavity concrete construction, have problems and,whilst not designated ‘defective’ under the Act, are nevertheless regarded as poor security bymost lenders and will be valued accordingly.By way of example, BRE 469 describes Easiform Type II as affected by ….”completecarbonisation of concrete cover to dense RC external walls particularly in properties builtbefore 1960” meaning that any steel reinforcement, wall ties and the EML bonding betweenouter and inner leaves at joints between ‘lifts’, are likely to be corroded but difficult to assesswhen carrying out a non-invasive survey.Similar comments apply to the Dorlonco where the steel frame, which is concealed within thestructure and may not be obvious within a roof void, tends to suffer minor to severe corrosion ofthe RSJ stanchions, particularly at the bases, as well as corrosion of wall ties.Type-identification and even recognition of some types of non-traditional housing can bedifficult, particularly where roofs are of low-hipped construction and access within the void islimited. The matter becomes more complex where – in the case of Dorlonco houses – the outerwalls are clad in stone or brick and initially can appear as traditional cavity construction.Recognition of Easiform Type II can also be difficult, where outer walls superficially resemblecavity block construction except for being marginally thinner in width.Members are reminded, in a recessive market, to take care when inspecting former localauthority housing stock, particularly when carrying out a survey on an unfamiliar estate.Anything that appears ‘odd’, or different, usually is. If in doubt, a call to the local BuildingInspector or Council Housing Manager can often reveal useful information and save grief byavoiding a possible PI claim for mis-description and over-valuation.

“BRE publication 469, 2004, ….’Non-Traditional Houses’ (cost £275)”

“from Spring Newsletter 08”

This entry was posted Wednesday, 23 February, 2011 at 12:56 pm
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