It wasn't like Fort Knox, nothing like it but I do get a bit fed up having to climb over gates because tenants forget to leave the remote control in the lockable letterbox for me to gain entrance. (I had to do the same thing last week because there, the vendor had bolted the gate so I could not use the key!) Anyway having gained entrance I was able to get on top of the property and look down on it. It is a substantial three floored property in a reasonably quiet location close to Redland Road. Basically it was sound but my Clients had realised, and I have to say it wasn't difficult not to realise, that at first floor level the floor ran significantly downhill. I was not panting by the time I walked from the window to the door, but you know the feeling you're getting out of breath! Cracking has occurred through the party wall with the adjoining house and down through the internal accommodation adjacent to the party wall. Some of cracking seems recent even though it is of no magnitude, if that makes sense. Interestingly there is a double sealed screw down manhole cover set in the ceramic tiled basement floor which is how the entire lower level is finished. The walls may have dropped but the floor at this level has not. Nevertheless I am advising my Client instigates a video of the drains so that he is aware of their true condition and I'm also advising that my Clients insist that the vendor makes a claim on their insurance policy. My Clients can then take over the claim (under the Law of Property Act 1925) and we'll see where we go from here…   more »