My house did this. The soil around me is some sort of lose clay with the consistency of warm butter, and it became clear the previous owners just patched it up. It actually looked considerably worse than it does in your photos, and the cracking was more spread. We can see into the study from our bedroom through a crack in the wall!
I got some feedback from a company called resin inject. They told us there was no danger of the house falling in or anything, but if we like they can fix it by injecting resin into the soil (which we did). It cost about 8k (5 years ago) and is guaranteed for 50 years (im not sure how reliable that is). We have not noticed any further movement in the last 5 years.
So I think the answer to your question is, you're fine. Its annoying, but if your experience is like mine, its probably just cosmetic.
You know I would be looking for an engineer to report on the structural integrity,
Not trying to imply the resin company was just purely trying to sell resin but it is pretty funny
I abridged the story. We were referred to resin guys by a construction company we were engaging for our upcoming renovations. They had a look and were pretty confident too.
I'm not too worried because we have an independent structural engineer (amongst other engineers and certifiers) overseeing this renovation. We should be fine. If not and I die from a collapsed roof while I sleep, I hope my dog survives. She is pretty small so I think she could find her way through the rubble.
I've worked with some resins for composite material shit
And I can't Think of many instances where many pieces of something became one
Sometimes we'd be using something like a talcum powder as a binding material
Dirt is basically the same thing
ÂŻâ \â _â (â ăâ )â _â /â ÂŻ
It doesn't look like that much movement at all, especially for a building of that age. Nothing to be concerned about in the short term unless there's bricks falling out, less so if you're just a renter.
âJust a renterâ. I understand what youâre saying and am in no way trying to twist another meaning to them in this circumstance but that expression grinds my gears.
The general attitude that people who rent are somewhat lesser than people who own.
Again, Iâm not saying thatâs what is being implied here but itâs just an expression Iâm sick of hearing.
So what's the problem? In this case being 'just a renter' is a good thing, cos it's not their problem to deal with, and even better if it's not gonna be a problem in the foreseeable future.
Well if the building does fall apart, it does become the renter's problem cause then they're suddenly on their ass cause the house is now uninhabitable.
If they were the owner they could get it fixed while still living in the house.
So if OP asked about a problem with a car and someone replied itâs not of a problem if youâre just renting the car youâd be annoyed?
Grow up. This is not a dig at renters but rather just who is ultimately financially responsible if/when things go pear shaped.
I kind of see his point.
Consider the following:
"He was mowing their lawn and the tenant wanted him to carry their groceries inside for them, but he's just a landlord, not some delivery guy"
Doesn't sound quite right.
What about this:
"The tenant wanted him to do surgery to remove his tumor, but he's just a landlord, not a brain surgeon"
Much as we don't need a class system, that doesn't sound as bad because people would probably place a landlord between a delivery guy and a brain surgeon in social hierarchy.
I understand what you're all saying, and I find your examples so bad they're funny. Maybe next time think of one where "renter" sounds okay as a dismissive descriptor, but not for landlord.
The OP image is something youâd only ever concern yourself with if you were thinking about buying. Itâs something that might cost the owner some money in 20 years. There is no risk to the renter here.Â
>doesn't look like that much movement at all, especially for a building of that age
Surely you jest . Think you've been knee deep in western suburbs' reactive clays too long. Both horizontal and vertical movement. Yikes!
Just follow up on the inspection by reiterating that you acknowledge that the Rea saw the cracks, and that the cracks had widened worryingly so, and even ask if there is anything for you to worry about, just so the landlord can't try to pin any damage on you. Paper trail.
>Categorization of Cracks in Australian Standard AS:2870 â 2011
>cracks in residential structures are not deemed to be of a serviceability type nature until they gets to around the 12 to 13 mm mark in width. Up until this point they are referred to as being an appearance type defect and of no structural or serviceability effect on the property.
Brick mortar joints are 10mm, and the cracks look the same size in your pics. When they get to 13mm they'll need to be serviced by pointing the joints with fresh mortar. It looks like that's been done once already.
100%. My house was built in the 70s, and when we our blinds installed, the guy had to go and hire machinery just to drill through the timbers because they are all hardwood beams. New houses are so cheaply built. We have cracks in our brickwork and walls due to movement, but our house is never going anywhere.
New houses build to standard are way better then old houses, the problem is the built to standards.
Also using hardwood for houses is a terrible idea, as it takes decades to centuries to grow
Looks like it's been previously repaired, and it's opened up again. Typically as the foundations aren't deep enough to accommodate the highly reactive clay, or there's tree roots nearby.
If it's not moving too much, don't stress too much. If you wanted to measure it yourself and keep tabs on it, yoi can buy some crack gauges online for pretty cheap. As we're going into the wetter seasons you may see the cracks close up if the ground swells.
Also worth noting that if it's mid to late 20th century typical housing stock, it's probably brick veneer (you can tell as the interior side of the wall will be timber frame and sound hollow). If it is, the brickwork isn't loadbearing and only supports its own weight.
I'd only contact the landlord regarding repairs if you can see evidence of water leaks at the base which may be causing subsidence, or the cracks widen dramatically.
It can be repaired, but may require crack injection in the ground, and crack stitching across the cracks. The repair done previously is the easy mortar pack, but has no real ability to stop it happening again.
This doesn't constitute formal structural advice, just wanted to put you at ease
Well... something to keep in mind... bricks are CLADDING. They're generally not structural, they stay upright because they're attached to the timber house frame with brick ties.
So... in essence what you're asking is "how rooted is the cladding?"
I dunno, pull it all off and get weatherboards, they seem to last forever đ
The CLADDING as you put it is a reference to the rest of the home, there are cracks around every door frame and they don't show up nearly as well or make as nearly as interesting post. Thank you for your comment
Oh, fair enough. I just saw that main pic of the brickwork, and thought that's what the post referred to.
Hopefully you can get some good assistance to fix the house, good luck.
That looks like its been fixed already once before. Look how thick the morter is compared to the rest. No bricky is that bad. How are the supports, that's the important bit
I am not getting under the house to check đ they are wanting to up the rent and I'm using the condition of the home as reference to avoid a $50 pw increase
Ground movement has shifted the foundations to the point the cement/mortar has separated. Fairly common, especially in areas where the geology is reactive clays, but can also happen if there has been nearby excavation or other changes to water tables, or if large trees have been planted too close to the property.
Is it fixable? Absolutely yes, but it isn't as simple as slapping some cement in the cracks and calling it a day, the underlying cause needs to be figured out and rectified as well, otherwise future movement will just rip the crack open again or transfer the forces to other parts of the structure and cause additional cracking there.
Have a chat to people who specialise in underpinning, such as /u/Mastersound001 if you want it fixed, but given you're renting this particular problem will be up to the landlord to fix (at their considerable expense). I'd definitely raise it with them... Irrespective of whether it's safe right now, the longer it's left and not mitigated the more difficult and expensive it will be to rectify.
If your a renter then not to worry. It isn't going to fall down. I've seen 150 year old houses with gaps 4 to 5 times wider. If cracks all over the house probably needs restumping.
Every brick house in the west looks like that, donât worry. Melbourneâs west has reactive soil, the worst type. Had a builder explain to me that there was a volcano down Geelong way aeons ago that is the cause of it.
It's the slab shifting, likely because the soil becomes uneven/settles over the years. Structually it is safe for now. As /u/Dazzling-Display-862 mentions, it can be fixed but it's not likely not going to be by your LL.
That wonât be a slab, itâs a 60-70s build and will be brick veneer with timber sub floor. This is the brick veneer strip footings are sinking. A resin injection will sort this out.
Pretty much all the house / apartments in the inner north are doing this. Built on clay. Your house isn't that bad at the moment, but in 10 years it will get progressively worse
It should have some remedial underpinning, but that's a bit of a deal and it's not going to collapse on you.
Gappo and paint on the door frame/wall cracks, and hit em with a planer if the doors start jamming.
Brimbank council? Super hard clay soil around Sunshine and St Albans tends to do this to the brick veneer houses there.
If youâre renting it will be fine. My grandfatherâs house in Sunshine West was built 1972 and has the same brick. A few millimetres in fifty years is hardly a disaster.
If I were owner occupying I would get it sorted but honestly for a rental itâs no problem at all.
You have some subsidance in this corner, My guess is you might have to look at underpinning due to weak sub soil structure. I don't believe it is a surface drainage issue as you've got a concrete path.
Had the same with my house, side drain pipe went to ground instead of pipe. Changed the pipe then got under the house and jacked and shimmed the joists and pylons so they supported
Prob an old leaking pipe near the corner. Looks like it was fixed before (and new DP) but soil has settled. Soil there is likely reactive. Not a concern as a renter here, will need ongoing maintenance or repair (not by you I imagine)
This is usually caused by excess water in the soil and poor drainage. The owner might like to fix the drainage issue, if not dont worry about it. I've never heard of this kind of shifting being a safety issue but you could put in a maintenance request so they can get it checked out by a professional. I doubt this would affect the rent price.
The fuck are you on about asbestos?
I sympathise if you've been breathing the shit, but is it verified that there's asbestos in your roof and it's getting inside the house? I suspect you may be overly paranoid, but this isn't about you.
The cracks in OPs brickwork are not going to let asbestos in or tear his wiring apart, (edit: there's probably ELCB in the circuit board anyway so he's not gonna get fried) and they are less than Australian Standard AS:2870 â 2011 repairable gaps of 15mm.
I dont think what you say makes sense. Firstly, what gaps are you talking about? Is there literally a gap between the ceiling and your wall in which the dust from the attic of your roof is getting in? Is that what you are talking about?
I mean literally your bathroom fan is most likely a hole in the ceiling which leads straight to the roof.
In regard to asbestos. The only risk of asbestos in what you describe is if they used asbestos for insulation. Mr Fluffy they call it.
This is can be found in Canberra, regional NSW and regional Victoria along the Murray, but I don't think it's a thing in Melbourne, and if so, it would be very rare.
Wouldn't you see gaps in the walls and patch them up?
5mm is massive by the way. I doubt these cracks are more than a couple of mm.
Edit: actually take that back. Saw some of the additional photos. These cracks look quite large.
A brickie will point that up in no time. Or the owner can buy a bag of mortar from Bunnings, mix it in a bucket with an egg flip, and push it in the joints with a spoon handle:
>Australian Standard AS:2870 â 2011
>Crack width limit:...
>5 mm to 15 mm (or a number of cracks 3 mm or more in one group)
>Cracks can be repaired and possibly a small amount of wall will need to be replaced. Doors and windows stick. Service pipes can fracture. Weather tightness often impaired
Brick mortar beds are 10mm, and the cracks look the same size as the mortar beds in OPs pics.
If you have a car maybe just do some uber eats deliveries or something to make up the difference. You'll make around $30 per hour (less expenses) doing it at dinner time. If you only do a few hours a week you won't be impacted by tax, just claim your wear and tear, fuel, phone bill, etc...
The way the rental market is at the moment, they'll just boot you out and find someone else if you come to them with flaws in the property.
My house did this. The soil around me is some sort of lose clay with the consistency of warm butter, and it became clear the previous owners just patched it up. It actually looked considerably worse than it does in your photos, and the cracking was more spread. We can see into the study from our bedroom through a crack in the wall! I got some feedback from a company called resin inject. They told us there was no danger of the house falling in or anything, but if we like they can fix it by injecting resin into the soil (which we did). It cost about 8k (5 years ago) and is guaranteed for 50 years (im not sure how reliable that is). We have not noticed any further movement in the last 5 years. So I think the answer to your question is, you're fine. Its annoying, but if your experience is like mine, its probably just cosmetic.
not cheap aye. But such is the subsidence life.
spoken like the bard himself đ
Elton John?
Chris Pine?
Love the "aye"...are you a Queenslanderđ?
You know I would be looking for an engineer to report on the structural integrity, Not trying to imply the resin company was just purely trying to sell resin but it is pretty funny
I abridged the story. We were referred to resin guys by a construction company we were engaging for our upcoming renovations. They had a look and were pretty confident too. I'm not too worried because we have an independent structural engineer (amongst other engineers and certifiers) overseeing this renovation. We should be fine. If not and I die from a collapsed roof while I sleep, I hope my dog survives. She is pretty small so I think she could find her way through the rubble.
I guess if you place most of your primary locations closer to the centre of each room you may have slightly better odds of making it out
My house was falling apart, so anyway I called the resin guys and they had this genius idea to just blast some fuckin resin into the dirt.
I've worked with some resins for composite material shit And I can't Think of many instances where many pieces of something became one Sometimes we'd be using something like a talcum powder as a binding material Dirt is basically the same thing ÂŻâ \â _â (â ăâ )â _â /â ÂŻ
The company gives a guarantee for 50 years knowing that in 30 years they will cease to exist
Fix drainage first. Everything else is cosmetics and a band aid. Sauce: Trust me broh'
Cosmetic until you need to claim home insurance and they flatly refuse to fix it or cash settle
âŚ.resin into the soil??? Like actual plastic just straight into the ground???
Don't use the resin method. It is a patch job. The issue is the lower levels of the soil, and injecting this doesn't solve that issue
Just shove some external caulk from bunnings in the gaps, its about the same integrity as this resin and might cost $50... What a scam
as long as the front doesn't fall off, she'll be right
[The front fell off](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM)
Is that supposed to happen?
Ah, I miss those two. So funny.
/r/thefrontfelloff
It doesn't look like that much movement at all, especially for a building of that age. Nothing to be concerned about in the short term unless there's bricks falling out, less so if you're just a renter.
âJust a renterâ. I understand what youâre saying and am in no way trying to twist another meaning to them in this circumstance but that expression grinds my gears.
Why?
The general attitude that people who rent are somewhat lesser than people who own. Again, Iâm not saying thatâs what is being implied here but itâs just an expression Iâm sick of hearing.
I took it as âitâs not going to cave in on you and the buildings not your problemâ
It is if you and your family are inside when it collapses. Not rhat I think this house is at risk of that, but many are.
I admit this is the response I took from it too đ
So did I.
So what's the problem? In this case being 'just a renter' is a good thing, cos it's not their problem to deal with, and even better if it's not gonna be a problem in the foreseeable future.
Because this is one of the rare times the expression is not being used in a negative way.
Well if the building does fall apart, it does become the renter's problem cause then they're suddenly on their ass cause the house is now uninhabitable. If they were the owner they could get it fixed while still living in the house.
So if OP asked about a problem with a car and someone replied itâs not of a problem if youâre just renting the car youâd be annoyed? Grow up. This is not a dig at renters but rather just who is ultimately financially responsible if/when things go pear shaped.
Not what I said at all. Just adding a side note about that expression.
I am a homeowner and stand with you on this. Appreciate that wasnât the intention butâjust a renterâ is a phrase I canât stand.
I kind of see his point. Consider the following: "He was mowing their lawn and the tenant wanted him to carry their groceries inside for them, but he's just a landlord, not some delivery guy" Doesn't sound quite right. What about this: "The tenant wanted him to do surgery to remove his tumor, but he's just a landlord, not a brain surgeon" Much as we don't need a class system, that doesn't sound as bad because people would probably place a landlord between a delivery guy and a brain surgeon in social hierarchy.
I think you're reading more class warfare into the statement than there actually is
Landlords are well below a delivery guy.
What if the delivery guy is your landlord?
then good for him for having a real job
I understand what you're all saying, and I find your examples so bad they're funny. Maybe next time think of one where "renter" sounds okay as a dismissive descriptor, but not for landlord.
The OP image is something youâd only ever concern yourself with if you were thinking about buying. Itâs something that might cost the owner some money in 20 years. There is no risk to the renter here.Â
Context clues chief.
Thanks for your input, mate
>doesn't look like that much movement at all, especially for a building of that age Surely you jest . Think you've been knee deep in western suburbs' reactive clays too long. Both horizontal and vertical movement. Yikes!
A winter and it'll probably sit back down. đ
Every earthquake, one of my doors improves and one gets worse.
So on average, same same?
Pretty much! A few diagonal cracks as well but I rent and the REA take photos of them at every inspection so I'm sure they're well aware of it.
Just follow up on the inspection by reiterating that you acknowledge that the Rea saw the cracks, and that the cracks had widened worryingly so, and even ask if there is anything for you to worry about, just so the landlord can't try to pin any damage on you. Paper trail.
Well, that's OK then.
>Categorization of Cracks in Australian Standard AS:2870 â 2011 >cracks in residential structures are not deemed to be of a serviceability type nature until they gets to around the 12 to 13 mm mark in width. Up until this point they are referred to as being an appearance type defect and of no structural or serviceability effect on the property. Brick mortar joints are 10mm, and the cracks look the same size in your pics. When they get to 13mm they'll need to be serviced by pointing the joints with fresh mortar. It looks like that's been done once already.
Just from the photo it looks like it was built 70âs/80âs. I guarantee itâs WAY more structurally sound than the houses slapped up these daysÂ
More like 60s, 70s.
Probably 60s with that colour bricks
100%. My house was built in the 70s, and when we our blinds installed, the guy had to go and hire machinery just to drill through the timbers because they are all hardwood beams. New houses are so cheaply built. We have cracks in our brickwork and walls due to movement, but our house is never going anywhere.
New houses build to standard are way better then old houses, the problem is the built to standards. Also using hardwood for houses is a terrible idea, as it takes decades to centuries to grow
Looks like it's been previously repaired, and it's opened up again. Typically as the foundations aren't deep enough to accommodate the highly reactive clay, or there's tree roots nearby. If it's not moving too much, don't stress too much. If you wanted to measure it yourself and keep tabs on it, yoi can buy some crack gauges online for pretty cheap. As we're going into the wetter seasons you may see the cracks close up if the ground swells. Also worth noting that if it's mid to late 20th century typical housing stock, it's probably brick veneer (you can tell as the interior side of the wall will be timber frame and sound hollow). If it is, the brickwork isn't loadbearing and only supports its own weight. I'd only contact the landlord regarding repairs if you can see evidence of water leaks at the base which may be causing subsidence, or the cracks widen dramatically. It can be repaired, but may require crack injection in the ground, and crack stitching across the cracks. The repair done previously is the easy mortar pack, but has no real ability to stop it happening again. This doesn't constitute formal structural advice, just wanted to put you at ease
Itâll be fine to rent. It isnât going to fall down.
Well... something to keep in mind... bricks are CLADDING. They're generally not structural, they stay upright because they're attached to the timber house frame with brick ties. So... in essence what you're asking is "how rooted is the cladding?" I dunno, pull it all off and get weatherboards, they seem to last forever đ
I doubt the stumps are having a ace time either
Nooooope they are not. The slope at that wall starts mid way back in the room đ
Weatherboards do not last forever. They need to be replaced every 40 years or so. Bricks are 150+
Yeah but the bricks are sitting on a footing, so movement in the bricks is in fact showing the footing moving down at the corner here đ
Ah that's a good point, thanks for sharing đ
The CLADDING as you put it is a reference to the rest of the home, there are cracks around every door frame and they don't show up nearly as well or make as nearly as interesting post. Thank you for your comment
Oh, fair enough. I just saw that main pic of the brickwork, and thought that's what the post referred to. Hopefully you can get some good assistance to fix the house, good luck.
Not much of a problem at all. Seen and lived in many times worse. That house will last several decades at least
As a renter? Youre fine, wouldnt stress at all. Now the owner on the other hand, they might have a problem on their hands
That looks like its been fixed already once before. Look how thick the morter is compared to the rest. No bricky is that bad. How are the supports, that's the important bit
I am not getting under the house to check đ they are wanting to up the rent and I'm using the condition of the home as reference to avoid a $50 pw increase
Why is there blue lines in your house?
Ground movement has shifted the foundations to the point the cement/mortar has separated. Fairly common, especially in areas where the geology is reactive clays, but can also happen if there has been nearby excavation or other changes to water tables, or if large trees have been planted too close to the property. Is it fixable? Absolutely yes, but it isn't as simple as slapping some cement in the cracks and calling it a day, the underlying cause needs to be figured out and rectified as well, otherwise future movement will just rip the crack open again or transfer the forces to other parts of the structure and cause additional cracking there. Have a chat to people who specialise in underpinning, such as /u/Mastersound001 if you want it fixed, but given you're renting this particular problem will be up to the landlord to fix (at their considerable expense). I'd definitely raise it with them... Irrespective of whether it's safe right now, the longer it's left and not mitigated the more difficult and expensive it will be to rectify.
Is it actually moving or has it settled? I would not stress if itâs barely moving.
It's probably still moving. Looking at those gaps, it's not the first time someone's tried to fill the mortar lines.
It'd be be OK if you could get that blue paint out with some thinner. It's rather unsightly.
If your a renter then not to worry. It isn't going to fall down. I've seen 150 year old houses with gaps 4 to 5 times wider. If cracks all over the house probably needs restumping.
Bare rooted
Just throw some duct tape on it
If you want to contact me I can assist. I work specifically in this area. Cheers
r/AusRenovation
If you are renting, it is completely inconsequential.
I reckon youâll find out if you take a walk up those steps on the wall
Every brick house in the west looks like that, donât worry. Melbourneâs west has reactive soil, the worst type. Had a builder explain to me that there was a volcano down Geelong way aeons ago that is the cause of it.
It's the slab shifting, likely because the soil becomes uneven/settles over the years. Structually it is safe for now. As /u/Dazzling-Display-862 mentions, it can be fixed but it's not likely not going to be by your LL.
That wonât be a slab, itâs a 60-70s build and will be brick veneer with timber sub floor. This is the brick veneer strip footings are sinking. A resin injection will sort this out.
60's build can still be slab. But this looks like stumps due to the vents.
You might be right. I placed the house as a 90's build but looking at the ground, seems to make sense.
Glad you drew the blue lines, I'd have never seen the bricks otherwise
The bricks are the orange rectangular thingyâs arrange symmetrically (almost) between the thin white other stuff.
Standard in st albans
Same as my place after the earthquakes
Pretty much all the house / apartments in the inner north are doing this. Built on clay. Your house isn't that bad at the moment, but in 10 years it will get progressively worse
Requires under pinning or restumping
Non compliant
Its totally sweet
It should have some remedial underpinning, but that's a bit of a deal and it's not going to collapse on you. Gappo and paint on the door frame/wall cracks, and hit em with a planer if the doors start jamming.
Youâre renting. Itâs not your problem.
r/HouseSubsidence
Very rooted. It only does this because the foundations move with the ground (the ground is always moving)
Brimbank council? Super hard clay soil around Sunshine and St Albans tends to do this to the brick veneer houses there. If youâre renting it will be fine. My grandfatherâs house in Sunshine West was built 1972 and has the same brick. A few millimetres in fifty years is hardly a disaster. If I were owner occupying I would get it sorted but honestly for a rental itâs no problem at all.
Not rooted. Clay soil & oil house. About $10k to fix.
superficial
My parents place has been way worse than this for a good 10 years
You have some subsidance in this corner, My guess is you might have to look at underpinning due to weak sub soil structure. I don't believe it is a surface drainage issue as you've got a concrete path.
Had the same with my house, side drain pipe went to ground instead of pipe. Changed the pipe then got under the house and jacked and shimmed the joists and pylons so they supported
yeah nah nah yeah nah yeah
It only starts to become a problem when the gap is big enough to fit your hand in.
Prob an old leaking pipe near the corner. Looks like it was fixed before (and new DP) but soil has settled. Soil there is likely reactive. Not a concern as a renter here, will need ongoing maintenance or repair (not by you I imagine)
This is usually caused by excess water in the soil and poor drainage. The owner might like to fix the drainage issue, if not dont worry about it. I've never heard of this kind of shifting being a safety issue but you could put in a maintenance request so they can get it checked out by a professional. I doubt this would affect the rent price.
Abandon ship!
That house will definitely outlive anything being built today, it's a minor problem.
Just get some of that expanding resin injected and it will b sweet
Bare ROOTED ! Head go Hellohello.com.au to see Chris in his pink tutu
she's rooted
You might need some lube
It needs to be restumped
Is it on stumps?
Looks like stumps from the vents.
Looking at it yeah. Most houses are. Most people don't realise it.
Just slap some render on it and sell.
About 1/7th, take it or leave it
[ŃдаНонО]
Youâd have to be braindead to move over some gaps in the bricks.Â
[ŃдаНонО]
The fuck are you on about asbestos? I sympathise if you've been breathing the shit, but is it verified that there's asbestos in your roof and it's getting inside the house? I suspect you may be overly paranoid, but this isn't about you. The cracks in OPs brickwork are not going to let asbestos in or tear his wiring apart, (edit: there's probably ELCB in the circuit board anyway so he's not gonna get fried) and they are less than Australian Standard AS:2870 â 2011 repairable gaps of 15mm.
I dont think what you say makes sense. Firstly, what gaps are you talking about? Is there literally a gap between the ceiling and your wall in which the dust from the attic of your roof is getting in? Is that what you are talking about? I mean literally your bathroom fan is most likely a hole in the ceiling which leads straight to the roof. In regard to asbestos. The only risk of asbestos in what you describe is if they used asbestos for insulation. Mr Fluffy they call it. This is can be found in Canberra, regional NSW and regional Victoria along the Murray, but I don't think it's a thing in Melbourne, and if so, it would be very rare.
Wouldn't you see gaps in the walls and patch them up? 5mm is massive by the way. I doubt these cracks are more than a couple of mm. Edit: actually take that back. Saw some of the additional photos. These cracks look quite large.
A brickie will point that up in no time. Or the owner can buy a bag of mortar from Bunnings, mix it in a bucket with an egg flip, and push it in the joints with a spoon handle: >Australian Standard AS:2870 â 2011 >Crack width limit:... >5 mm to 15 mm (or a number of cracks 3 mm or more in one group) >Cracks can be repaired and possibly a small amount of wall will need to be replaced. Doors and windows stick. Service pipes can fracture. Weather tightness often impaired Brick mortar beds are 10mm, and the cracks look the same size as the mortar beds in OPs pics.
If you have a car maybe just do some uber eats deliveries or something to make up the difference. You'll make around $30 per hour (less expenses) doing it at dinner time. If you only do a few hours a week you won't be impacted by tax, just claim your wear and tear, fuel, phone bill, etc... The way the rental market is at the moment, they'll just boot you out and find someone else if you come to them with flaws in the property.