10 must-check items for old house health inspection: structural safety, compliance with regulations and maintenance cost assessment in one go

Why do old houses need health inspections?

According to statistics, there are 4.83 million old houses in Taiwan that are over 30 years old, and the proportion of old houses in Taipei City is as high as 71.65%. These old houses face problems such as structural aging, pipeline corrosion, and waterproofing failure. If not detected and repaired in time, residential safety may be endangered.

Old house health inspection is like doing a health check on the house. Only by understanding the real condition of the house through professional evaluation can we make appropriate judgments.

Government subsidies: Health inspections of old houses do not cost a lot of money

The government promotes the "Old House Life Extension Plan" and the "Homesteading and Gardening Plan" and provides subsidies for earthquake resistance assessment of old houses:

• Preliminary assessment of earthquake resistance:The maximum subsidy for each building is 12,000-15,000 yuan (depending on the floor surface) Depends on the area)
• Detailed assessment of earthquake resistance: Some counties and cities provide additional subsidies
• Applicants: Residential buildings over 30 years old

The preliminary assessment adopts a full subsidy, based on one building.

Top 10 items that must be checked for health inspection of old houses

1. Structural safety and earthquake resistance

This is the most critical item. The key points of the inspection include:

• Whether there are cracks in beams and columns (especially diagonal cracks)
• Whether the concrete is peeling and whether the steel bars are exposed
• Whether there is a weak layer on the first floor (such as storefronts) Falling off the wall)
• Whether the earthquake resistance ID value reaches 0.35 or above

If the earthquake resistance ID value does not reach 0.35, it means that the house may not be able to effectively resist the vibration when a strong earthquake strikes, and there is a high risk.

2. Wall cancer and water leakage

Wall cancer is the most common problem in old houses. The focus of inspection is:

• Whether there is white powdery substance on the wall
• Whether there are water stains or yellow spots on the ceiling
• Is there any sign of water seepage around the window frame?
• Is there mold on the bathroom and kitchen walls?

Repair cost: about 20,000 to 50,000 yuan for partial treatment, 150,000 to 300,000 yuan for full waterproofing and redoing.

3. Old wires and electrical safety

In houses over 40 years old, the wire system most likely needs to be updated:

• Whether old wires (such as rubber insulated wires) are still used?
• Electric box capacity Is it sufficient (modern homes require at least 100A)
• Is there a grounding wire?
• Is the number of sockets sufficient?

Maintenance cost: Replacement of wiring in the whole room is about 100,000-200,000 yuan (depending on the square footage).

4. Water pipe corrosion and water pressure problems

Old water pipes are prone to rust and leakage:

• Water pipe material (galvanized steel pipes are prone to rust, so it is recommended to replace them with stainless steel or PVC)
• Whether the water pressure is stable
• Whether the water quality is clear (whether there is rusty water)
• Whether there are signs of leakage in the pipelines

Repair cost: replacement of pipes in the whole room is about 80,000-150,000 yuan.

5. Failure of the waterproof layer

The waterproof layer of old houses usually fails. Key points to check:

• Is there any water leakage on the attic?
• Is there any water stains on the ceiling downstairs in the bathroom?
• Is there any water seepage at the junction between the balcony and the interior?

Repair costs: Bathroom waterproofing is about 50,000-100,000 yuan/room, and attic waterproofing is about 100,000-200,000 yuan.

6. Aging and air tightness of doors and windows

Old doors and windows affect safety and energy saving:

• Whether the door and window frames are deformed or rusty
• Whether the glass is single-layered (it is recommended to replace it with a double-layer airtight window)
• whether the switch is smooth
• whether the airtightness is good (whether there is air leakage)

Repair cost: Replacing airtight windows in the whole room is about 100,000-200,000 yuan.

7. Fire and escape safety

Fire-fighting equipment in old houses is usually insufficient:

• Whether there is a smoke detector
• Whether the escape route is clear
• Whether there is a fire extinguisher
• Whether there is an escape hatch in the iron window

Maintenance cost: Basic fire-fighting equipment is about 10,000-30,000 yuan.

8. Termites and Pests

Wood decoration is susceptible to termite attack:

• Whether there are hollow sounds in the wooden floor
• Whether wooden door frames and cabinets are paved
• Whether there is accumulation of sawdust in the corners

Repair costs: about 10,000 to 30,000 yuan for insect removal, and about 50,000 to 100,000 yuan for damaged wood replacement.

9. Indoor air quality

Poor ventilation in old houses may affect health:

• Is there a good ventilation system
• Is there an exhaust fan in the bathroom
• Is there a range hood in the kitchen
• Is there a formaldehyde problem (if there has been recent renovation)

Repair cost: Adding a ventilation system is about 30,000 to 80,000 yuan.

10. Compliance with regulations

Check whether there are illegal constructions or illegal uses:

• Balcony extension
• Roof top
• Change of use license purposes
• Whether to apply for permission for interior decoration

If there are illegal constructions, you may face the risk of demolition and affect the bank loan ratio.

Old house health inspection application process

Step 1: Integration of residents’ consensus

Apartment buildings need to obtain the consent of residents (usually the consent of the owner and the majority of the shareholding ratio is required).

Step 2: Entrust a professional unit

Entrust an architect, civil technician or structural technician to conduct a seismic capacity assessment. The government provides a "Joint Supply Contract for Structural Safety Performance Assessment", and you can check the qualification assessment agency.

Step 3: Submit application

Submit application documents to the construction management office of the local county and city government, including:

• Application form
• Copy of building title
• Resident consent form
• Evaluation agency quotation

Step 4: Conduct evaluation

The evaluation agency will conduct on-site inspections and complete the evaluation report in about 2-4 weeks.

Step 5: Apply for subsidy

After the assessment is completed, attach the report and receipt to apply for subsidy.

Repair cost estimation table (taking a 30 square meter old house as an example)

The above is an estimate. The actual cost depends on the condition of the house and the selection of materials.

Under what circumstances do I need to apply for a structural technician visa?

You must apply for a structural technician visa in the following situations:

1. Remove load-bearing walls or shear walls
2. Change the main structure of the building
3. Add floors or large-scale additions< /li>
4. The seismic assessment has not reached the minimum level
5. Applying for reconstruction of a dangerous old building

Changing the structure without a structural technician's visa may violate the "Construction Law" and may result in a fine of RMB 60,000 to RMB 300,000.

Decision-making suggestions after health inspection of old houses

Situation 1: The structure is safe and the equipment is acceptable
Suggestion: partial repair (water, electricity, waterproofing, painting), budget is about 500,000-1 million yuan.

Situation 2: The structure is acceptable and the equipment is old
Recommendation: Moderate renovation (water and electricity renewal, kitchen and bathroom renovation, floor renewal), with a budget of about 1 to 2 million yuan.

Situation 3: There are doubts about the structure and the equipment is completely outdated
Suggestion: Comprehensive renovation or consideration of replacement/dangerous reconstruction, with a budget of more than 2 million yuan.

Conclusion: Old house health inspection is investment protection

Whether you are planning to buy a second-hand house or want to renovate your own old house, old house health inspection is a necessary investment. Through professional appraisals, you can:

1. Understand the true condition of the house and avoid buying a landmine house
2. Understand the maintenance costs and make financial plans
3. Apply for government subsidies to reduce appraisal costs
4. Ensure residential safety and avoid public security accidents

It is recommended that before buying a house or decorating it, be sure to entrust a professional technician to conduct a health inspection of the old house. Only by understanding the condition of the house at once can you make the wisest decision.