THE HOUSE OF HORROR

Sometimes it's worth delving into the history of a property, as Ian Rock discovers in this unsettling example

- IAN ROCK

There's a compelling argument to say that the house-buying process in this country should come with serious health warnings. If the charming cottage you've just purchased for an eye-watering sum turns out to be a subsiding money pit without any legal rights of access, then, as the new owner, that's your problem. Fortunately, in most cases, such nightmare scenarios are unlikely to arise, thanks to pre-purchase checks carried out by conveyancing solicitors, surveyors, and valuers who are employed to de-risk the process.

But there are still some risks that even the most ardent professional input can't normally forestall. Perhaps the most obvious example is whether your new neighbors turn out to be a delight or a disaster – something that's usually only apparent once you've moved in. But there's another more unsettling question: what if the property turns out to have a dark history?

A HOUSE WITH HISTORY

A few years ago, a routine instruction came through to carry out a valuation survey for a mortgage lender client. The property was a 1930s house located on a large semi-rural plot just off the A41 and the selling agent had arranged access via a local decorator who was on-site preparing a quote.