need advice: basement wall bowed

Howdy. I am renting a house that the owner wants to sell me, but it has one problem that really worries me. One cinder block wall in the basement actually bulges in like it's being pushed in by some force. The basement stays dry (the soil is real sandy). My thinking is that there are no gutters on the house and maybe the Michigan winters have caused this. Anyone know the likely cause, and the possible fixes? There has been additional bracing put in at some point to support the house on that side. As you may imagine, this is a big concern when it comes to buying this place.
Jerry Cinorjer@aol.com

 

Be glad your name is on the rental agreement, not the deed. My advise would be to keep it that way. The price tag to correct this problem (and whatever problems it may have created that you aren't aware of yet) could easily approach a number in the same neighborhood as the purchase price.

 

There is probably too much fill against the wall, and you are right when you said it looks like force has pushed it in. Find out whether the foundation is 8 or 10" (thick) block. Ask the local builing inspector the max. back fill level. You may need to remove some earth against the house. Be sure to keep a slope away from the walls for drainage. This will prevent further bowing, but, will not rectify the present damage. You need some one in the know to look at the foundation and determine the repairability and costs.