Previously unknown basement rears it's ugly head

[kandgmitchell]

I'm sure I've seen some photo's but can't find them. They tend to show a forest of brand new screwjacks which I believe we have purchased.

 

It's useful to have this sort of feedback as it demonstrates there are alternatives that need assessment before a design decision is made. Just to qualify my approach I'd say using foamed concrete would put an extra 3kN/m2 load on the existing basement floor/sub grade. I'd say that was pretty nominal in the great scheme of things and likewise, horizontal loading on the existing basement walls would be resisted by the existing external ground. Access to pump could be via one of the ground floor windows of the affected flat. 

 

Mind you if the costs come in too high it might be just as economic for leaseholders to club together and buy that flat leaseholder out. Remove the floor and put a simple steel stair behind the front door to give access into the basement. It's always worth thinking outside the box!

[saveasteading]

28 minutes ago, kandgmitchell said:

worth thinking outside the box!

Quite so. I've just reread the original post. 

Concrete cracks, steels corrode. Newish walls can be removed again.

The managing agents were not technical people, so their comments are probably irrelevant.

 

So the residents' trust perhaps need to get a fund together and start from scratch. A good local SE will be a starting point. A free first visit for a quote.

Then a solicitor (there are construction specialists)  to formalise the process, get insurance etc.

Then sort it. The value of all properties will then increase by more than the cost, esp for those who can't sell.

 

OR. Is there a local big developer/ landlord who might buy the lot and sort it out... takes the risk and makes money?

[-rick-]

Maybe I'm an optimist but to me the hardest problem you have to solve here is to get everyone to agree how to move forward. In a way, winning the appeal for insurance would help a lot with that as it will take the details somewhat out of your hands and into the insurance companies.

 

Still, while you wait for determination there well worth getting the SE in to do a proper assessment (which should be easy to agree).