Building inspection: Dunedin - recommendations?

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gazbo

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#807087 29-Apr-2013 09:19

No idea, is it on the LIM terms & conditions from the council?

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#807143 29-Apr-2013 10:35

I've found out ... :D

something to do with earth works weird

timmmay

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#807199 29-Apr-2013 11:33

I don't know if I should name the company I used, it was 5 or 6 years ago now. They're franchised and operate throughout New Zealand. They have a clause that says the maximum you can claim back if they're incorrect is their fee, which from memory was around $400.

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#807225 29-Apr-2013 11:56

ie pay us to find the obvious and to do what we think it's best practice inspecting but if we suck don't blame us policy

gazbo

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#807237 29-Apr-2013 12:10

You need to get some legal advice as the repairs you discuss are likely in the six figure range depending on extent of the problem. There is a separate time limitation under the limitations act which states you have six years from the time a defect could reasonably have been noticed to take a claim. Hunt out your records and check the dates they did the inspection and if you are within time it may be worthwhile taking a claim. If the piles were re-done, but badly, I'm assuming a building consent was required and the council may end up being a defendant party for the re-piling costs (unless it was done without a consent).

timmmay

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#807299 29-Apr-2013 12:55

Thanks Gazbo, I appreciate your thoughts. I'm not sure it's worth the time and hassle, given how hard it would be to prove, their disclaimers, etc. I've fixed most of it up, but I am up for $40K in the next few years to re-roof and reclad, if I'd know it was required I wouldn't have bought the house at the price I did.

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#807326 29-Apr-2013 13:27

what era was the house may I ask?

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#807329 29-Apr-2013 13:29

also any reason not to buy a house if inner neighbours' sewage drains run through the property?

timmmay

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#807331 29-Apr-2013 13:29

So old there are no records of it being built, possibly because it was moved when an overpass was built. Around 100 years old.

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#807336 29-Apr-2013 13:41

got a dumb question -

imagine there is a valley surrounded by higher ground on all sides but the 'valley' is around 130m above sea level

how does the sewage drain from (houses in that) valley if it is passive flow?

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#807337 29-Apr-2013 13:41

I rang the council drainage engineer and he could not explain

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gazbo

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#807440 29-Apr-2013 15:15

joker97: also any reason not to buy a house if inner neighbours' sewage drains run through the property?

Not really, not unless it runs under your driveway or there are big trees nearby, the roots of which are your responsibility if they start breaking pipes.

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#807452 29-Apr-2013 15:20

joker97: got a dumb question -

imagine there is a valley surrounded by higher ground on all sides but the 'valley' is around 130m above sea level

how does the sewage drain from (houses in that) valley if it is passive flow?

*bump*

gazbo

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#807467 29-Apr-2013 15:28

joker97: got a dumb question -

imagine there is a valley surrounded by higher ground on all sides but the 'valley' is around 130m above sea level

how does the sewage drain from (houses in that) valley if it is passive flow?

It's not a dumb question at all. They will generally be gravity fed at a gentle slope so the solids don't get left behind. Having the pipe 2/3rds full creates a partial pressure and vacuum which also makes it flow easier (installed at Petra over 2000 years ago), and they use lift pumps every now and then to gain height.

froob

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#807615 29-Apr-2013 19:00

joker97: while waiting for lim what does subject to right of batter subject to transfer 123456 mean?

This sounds like an interest registered on the title, which will probably give a neighbouring owner the right to build an embankment or sloping area of earth somewhere on the property. Ideally you should have a lawyer look at any interest registered on the title of a property you are considering purchasing.

joker97: also any reason not to buy a house if inner neighbours' sewage drains run through the property?

There should be an interest registered on the title relating to this as well (an easement). Again, best to have a lawyer review this. It will likely include the right for the neighbour to come onto the property to maintain or replace the pipeline. This might be an issue if the pipeline runs under anything which would have to be removed to dig it up (for example a shed or a deck). On the other side of the coin, this could also be an issue if the pipeline starts leaking and the neighbour is unwilling to take responsibility and have it fixed.

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