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Damaged retaining wall to public road. Must I repair?

  • 15-09-2022 12:52pm
    #1
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,251 ✭✭✭


    I'm close to buying a first family home but one issue has arisen on the building survey.

    A low wall, maybe 2 feet high marks the border between the front garden and public road.

    At some point in the last 6 years it seems the council raised this road considerably. Going by the old Google maps photos I'd say the road was raised by at least a foot. I'd imagine this wall was never designed to take the load and has now nearly collapsed. It's currently propped up with timbers. The engineer has costed at least 8k to repair as it is.

    We'll be moving into house with a small child and can't leave it as is. A friend has suggested we just place a timber fence behind the timbers to keep our child safe and inform the council they need to fix it so the road doesn't subside.

    I do think this should have been the councils responsibility when the structure started to fail, but I think the seller didn't see it as a priority and left it as is.

    Any advice or observations?



Comments

  • #2
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,251 ✭✭✭MegamanBoo


    Just to clarify, this is in a rural area and the wall at the front of the property is supporting the road.

    I think it would have to be on the council to repair it then surely.



  • #3
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,552 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    Your best bet is probably arrange a meeting with the local roads engineer to discuss the issue. But before you do that you will either need full title to the property or get the current owner to pursue it.



  • #4
    MegamanBoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,251 ✭✭✭MegamanBoo


    Thanks, I was thinking that, it would be great to know what way the council are likely to look at it in advance.


    I don't want to jeopardize the deal by haggling too hard on it if it's likely the council will foot the bill. On the other hand, it's a fair chunk of money to risk on a meeting in the future.



  • #5
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,552 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    In my experience Councils are generally willing to make good on genuine problems where they would be liable. However it can be down to the individual engineer on occasions. You might meet a lad who is trying to climb the ladder fast and save on expenditure which looks good on his CV when it comes to promotion in the future.

    The biggest problem you may face is the time delay in bringing the matter to the Council's attention. If the current owner has raised it then its a good starting point. But if it hasnt been mentioned for the last 6 years it certainly reduces the chances of getting any financial settlement.



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