I am just trying to buy a lovely little mid terraced victorian house. Of course it can't be easy and the survey has brought up a major rising damp problem. The surveyor has said we are paying too much considering the work needed but I have been looking around at other similar properties and i can't see anything that is as nice. Now i don't know what to do! Does anyone have any advice?
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Rising Damp
- Thread starter Alexandra
- Start date
biffvernon
Member
- Messages
- 4,607
- Location
- Lincolnshire
That's an easy question. The answer is:
Buy it.
(We'll help sort out the damp problem later)
Buy it.
(We'll help sort out the damp problem later)
Hi,
you will find lots of postings about damp on the forum, but if you want a bit more reassurance could you give a little more info.
Id the terrace flat or on a hill so that any part of the property is below ground level?
Where in the property is the damp ? Has it been treated previously (it would be best if not)
Is it brick / stone and /or rendered (if render does the render go down to the ground or even below)?
Is the rainwater drainage ok ? so gutters in good condition and rainwater falling around the property will run away from the house rather than to the house.
Any paths / concret around the building ?
What sort of floors ? solid (slabs/tiles/concrete) or suspended wooden floor? any rot in wooden floors ?
Most supposed damp can be quickly and easily (and fairly cheaply) dealt with - just dont let the injection people anywhere near.
On the plus side - it is a negotiation issue, to get the price down.
you will find lots of postings about damp on the forum, but if you want a bit more reassurance could you give a little more info.
Id the terrace flat or on a hill so that any part of the property is below ground level?
Where in the property is the damp ? Has it been treated previously (it would be best if not)
Is it brick / stone and /or rendered (if render does the render go down to the ground or even below)?
Is the rainwater drainage ok ? so gutters in good condition and rainwater falling around the property will run away from the house rather than to the house.
Any paths / concret around the building ?
What sort of floors ? solid (slabs/tiles/concrete) or suspended wooden floor? any rot in wooden floors ?
Most supposed damp can be quickly and easily (and fairly cheaply) dealt with - just dont let the injection people anywhere near.
On the plus side - it is a negotiation issue, to get the price down.
CHRIS
Member
- Messages
- 421
- Location
- ESSEX MATE!
Dont rely on any "free" survey by a man with a van, instead use the "seeking specialists" link on this site or contact the RICS and explain you want a period property specialist. That willl be a place to start.
http://www.rics.org/RICSservices/Findasurveyor/Public+Zone.htm
http://www.rics.org/RICSservices/Findasurveyor/Public+Zone.htm
Penners
Member
- Messages
- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
Alexandra
If the surveyor says you're paying too much for the property, then in your shoes I would try to negotiate a price reduction. But ultimately, even if the vendor digs his/her heels in, I would never pull out of purchasing a property that I really wanted just because there's a bit of damp - particularly if you feel that other similar properties aren't such good value.
Most damp problems can either be cured, or you can make a few not-terribly-expensive modifications so that you can live with the damp.
Before you call in a specialist to survey the problem, why not post the best description you can on this forum, and see what others think about the problem? Be sure to explain:-
1. Whether it's an internal or an external wall (ie: is there another room the other side of the wall, or the big wide world?)
2. Is it a party wall between you and a neighbour? If so, has the neighbour (a) noticed the damp, and (b) done anything about it?
3. What is the wall made of - brick?
4. If it's and outside wall, what sort of condition is it in, outside? is the pointing good, are the gutters above good, is the soil (or path or whatever) level higher outside than the internal floor?
5. What evidence can you see of the damp? Anything visible, or was it only identifiable with the surveyor's meter?
If you can put as much of this information as possible on the forum, I'm sure there are people who will be able to help you with good advice.
If the surveyor says you're paying too much for the property, then in your shoes I would try to negotiate a price reduction. But ultimately, even if the vendor digs his/her heels in, I would never pull out of purchasing a property that I really wanted just because there's a bit of damp - particularly if you feel that other similar properties aren't such good value.
Most damp problems can either be cured, or you can make a few not-terribly-expensive modifications so that you can live with the damp.
Before you call in a specialist to survey the problem, why not post the best description you can on this forum, and see what others think about the problem? Be sure to explain:-
1. Whether it's an internal or an external wall (ie: is there another room the other side of the wall, or the big wide world?)
2. Is it a party wall between you and a neighbour? If so, has the neighbour (a) noticed the damp, and (b) done anything about it?
3. What is the wall made of - brick?
4. If it's and outside wall, what sort of condition is it in, outside? is the pointing good, are the gutters above good, is the soil (or path or whatever) level higher outside than the internal floor?
5. What evidence can you see of the damp? Anything visible, or was it only identifiable with the surveyor's meter?
If you can put as much of this information as possible on the forum, I'm sure there are people who will be able to help you with good advice.