Should I buy this damp 1890s house?

[Headintheclouds]

I am in negotiations to buy this property, but before I spend my life savings I thought I would check if it is a good idea!

The property is the left of the picture, that is the kitchen wall. The internal wall has alot of peeling paint and is clearly damp.

I'm assuming this is caused by high ground levels and cement render. My hope would be to add some drainage to the external wall, but I'm concerned about neighbours not wanting me digging up the drive.

Also, the kitchen is essentially unheated. It has electric underfloor but the owner said he doesn't use this due to cost. I would be getting a large radiator installed into the central gas.

Eventually I would get that render removed, once I could afford it.

Any thoughts?

 

[paulc]

Looking at that picture, it appears that the downpipe from the roof line terminates some 600mm above the lower roof....

On the subject of heating in kitchens, I quite like plinth heaters - Expensive, but they take up zero wall space and send out a warm stream of air at floor level. Just installed a 2.4kW model from Thermix in my kitchen (a bit more noise than I would like, but well within acceptable limits).

 

[Headintheclouds]

Looking at that picture, it appears that the downpipe from the roof line terminates some 600mm above the lower roof....

On the subject of heating in kitchens, I quite like plinth heaters - Expensive, but they take up zero wall space and send out a warm stream of air at floor level. Just installed a 2.4kW model from Thermix in my kitchen (a bit more noise than I would like, but well within acceptable limits).

I hadn't notice the pipe, thanks for pointing it out. I was thinking a horizontal radiator may work, but unsure as to whether positioning it under a window would cause unnecessary heat loss.

 

[Cubist]

You should check and verify the exact line of what would become your properties Boundary Line - you may have no right to do any work to install/enhance drainage. Also, that driveway appears to be private and may be owned/controlled by neighbours; you should also checks to see if you may incur and responsibilities/liabilities associated with any of those spaces

Re radiators under windows - they're normally placed there to enhance/maximise convection currents and airflow around the room.