So you should not consider buying a house that has no way to get into the attic.
Buying a home with no attic access.
This is especially the case with older homes.
About 3 4 times per year for the last couple of years water drips into the living room window.
If the access panel is locked nailed or caulked shut then ask the seller to get it opened for you.
We recently bought our first house built in 1890 victorian farm house massachusetts.
I own a split level home with a cathedral ceiling in the living room.
But otherwise get the seller.
The seller s agent and the seller have no knowledge of there ever having been attic access that being said they ve only owned the property for 8 years.
The front half of the house has vaulted ceilings where the back does not so there is an attic up there however there is no attic access.
Thanks for all the replies.
Our living room looks similar to the one in your photo.
The home inspector told us there was no attic access we asked the previous owners and they confirmed.
This is not a good sign.
We were told not to worry about it but the more and more we are thinking about it we are concerned about what is up there.
2 the attic access opening may have been removed during a remodeling.
Of course no one can inspect the interior of a chimney from the attic but an inspector can note whether the structure itself is solid within the attic space.
The home style is eclectic victorian and it is a single level.
I can tell you that it is a real pita sometimes.
There is no attic above that part of the house.
The portion of the chimney that isn t exposed to the elements can also weather and deteriorate.
After reading we will definitely make sure to gain access to the attic.
We like the rest of the home but the issue with not having attic access concerns us.
If the attic access is located in an unconditioned part of the home such as a garage insulation and air sealing may not be needed.
The inspector did like this as there is no way to know what is up there which makes sense.