Can pyrite problems with a house be completely fixed ?

Usjes · 25-02-2017 03:35PM #1

Hi,

Went to view a house today with a low asking price, it turns out that its a receiver's sale and that when they tried to sell them two years ago the surveys showed up pyrite. So they say they have paperwork to show that the pyrite problem has been remedied and that they will show the houses for another week and then ask for best and final offers.
So I'm wondering how exactly do they fix pyrite and can it be completely fixed ? Or are they just fixing the problems that have manifested so far but that further problems due to pyrite may take longer to show up ?

Thanks,

Usjes.

Gumbo · 25-02-2017 04:08PM

Yes if done properly. It's basically a removal of floor slab and all the material underneath and in the perimeter of the house and start from scratch.

Calahonda52 · 25-02-2017 06:37PM

Is this a cash purchase as if not you may have issue.
The paperwork may look okay but there is no way to prove it was done properly and a receiver sale is such that you have zero comeback, not a sniff.

Its basically a crap shoot

con1982 · 26-02-2017 09:55AM

There may be a way to cover the risk.

If the pyrite was removed as part of the pyrite resolution board scheme, the contractor and engineers have signed documents certifying pyrite has been removed.

Normally you have no comeback if you are buying a secondhand property, but I'm fairly certain the pyrite board are the client for remediation, not the property owner. You could call them to confirm.

You should also check the neighbours have had it removed.

mirrorwall14 · 26-02-2017 09:58AM

We have bought s house where pyrite was remedied by the insurance company for the builder. Survey, bank and solicitor had no issues. The house is insured and everything now. You need a green cert

In our case the slab was removed and replaced

Sleeper12 · 26-02-2017 10:08AM

You are getting it now at a great price and there's nothing wrong with that but it's worth remembering that it will most likely not reach full market value if you want to sell in the future

Calahonda52 · 26-02-2017 11:18AM

con1982 wrote: »

There may be a way to cover the risk.

If the pyrite was removed as part of the pyrite resolution board scheme, the contractor and engineers have signed documents certifying pyrite has been removed.

Normally you have no comeback if you are buying a secondhand property, but I'm fairly certain the pyrite board are the client for remediation, not the property owner. You could call them to confirm.

You should also check the neighbours have had it removed.

It depends who did the work so its not as clearcut as you are painting here: you are assuming the Pyrite board was involved, may nt have been for a long list of reasons.

Johnnyhpipe · 26-02-2017 08:15PM

It can if the works are undertaken properly. One of the difficulties is the stigma and associated resale value. It will always be "the pyrite house"

Usjes · 26-02-2017 11:41PM

Okay, so from the responses it sounds like pyrite is just a problem in the foundations of the house and if done properly they remove and replace this one section at a time (presumably the remaining sections are enough to keep the house standing temporarily).
So I guess if the paperwork says its done right then it should be okay, apart from the potentially permanent 'pyrite-house' stigma. One weird thing is that they are looking for Best and Final Offers, and the paperwork for the remedial work will be shown to the successful bidder. It seems like it would make much more sense to share the paperwork with any interested party upfront wouldn't it? They also said not having your own survey done before putting in a bid would count against you so a lower offer + survey could be accepted over a higher offer without a survey.

Metric Tensor · 27-02-2017 01:13AM

They're trying to offload blame for any future problems onto your surveyor. VERY questionable behaviour which would make me wonder if the PRB (and their oversight) were actually not involved in the remedial work.

Tell them your surveyor needs to see the pyrite paperwork in advance if his survey. If they say no I'd be walking (running) away.

RORY O CONNOR · 22-03-2017 11:39PM

If the house has been remediated officially there is paperwork from the builder and the engineer to say it has been completely removed so the house should be OK. Don't buy without getting the certification from both!

woody1 · 23-03-2017 08:29PM

where is the house.. in the east of the country pyrite problems are mostly confined to the stone fill under the house... in the west and north-west its a problem in concrete blocks that walls are built with..

i can see the logic in taking out the fill under the floor slab and saying everythings ok... i cant really see how a house with pyrite in the blocks can be sorted ... take down and re-build the outer leaf ? just something worth considering if your in the west

TDMSS · 09-09-2018 08:58AM

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

We have bought s house where pyrite was remedied by the insurance company for the builder. Survey, bank and solicitor had no issues. The house is insured and everything now. You need a green cert

In our case the slab was removed and replaced

How is it year after, we are thinking about buying similar property. Are you experiencing any issues?

mirrorwall14 · 09-09-2018 09:55AM

No problems for us.

Recommend a broker for insurance as it’s easier but we weren’t loaded or anything.

Once paperwork came through from the estate agent showing the slab had been removed and replaced there was no issue with the banks

TDMSS · 09-09-2018 11:47AM

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

No problems for us.

Recommend a broker for insurance as it’s easier but we weren’t loaded or anything.

Once paperwork came through from the estate agent showing the slab had been removed and replaced there was no issue with the banks

Thanks,

The other thing. Was 'Certificate of Remediation' good enough, or you received actual 'Green Cert' as well? What I'm trying to say - is it necessary to reconfirm Pyrite Free when remediation work is complete?

mirrorwall14 · 09-09-2018 12:07PM

TDMSS wrote: »

Thanks,

The other thing. Was 'Certificate of Remediation' good enough, or you received actual 'Green Cert' as well? What I'm trying to say - is it necessary to reconfirm Pyrite Free when remediation work is complete?

Just checked with OH for clarity as he dealt with the paperwork

‘So a Green Cert is only awarded to a house free of pyrite. If you’ve had pyrite and had it fixed you don’t get a green cert just your remediation cert. our insurance doesn’t cover is if any pyrite issues reoccur’

Hope that helps

TDMSS · 09-09-2018 12:46PM

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Just checked with OH for clarity as he dealt with the paperwork

‘So a Green Cert is only awarded to a house free of pyrite. If you’ve had pyrite and had it fixed you don’t get a green cert just your remediation cert. our insurance doesn’t cover is if any pyrite issues reoccur’

Hope that helps

thanks, you are very helpful. I hope you don't mind if I come back with more questions in near future.

Can pyrite problems with a house be completely fixed ?

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