Damp in party wall

StevenW

Hello

I wonder if someone could offer me some advice.

Over the past few weeks I've noticed damp patches, flaky walpaper, black /green splodges appearing on a section of a party wall, in a hallway. (it's a semi detached house).
Also a small hole in the ceiling has appeared immediately above the damp wall.

As it was for the entire height of the wall I figured it was unlikely to be rising damp, and as I couldn't find any leaking pipes I had a damp surveyor come round to take a look.

He said that the neighbours overflow pipe had been in use recently and has been leaking water directly into the brickwork.
Had a word with them who admitted it was in use but has now been fixed (overflow stopped and the pipe itself has been extended outwards)

Am I within my rights to claim the repair costs on their insurance, including the cost of the survey? (around £250). The neighbour says the leak is now fixed so her responsibility is over.
As we have a small child in the house I am just about to get the repair costs done out of my own pocket (the whole hallway is now quite damp because of it, can't be healthy for the baby) but if she doesn't give her insurance details over to me what course of action can I take?
A decorating company was just about to start work on the room anyway but I'm sure they would charge extra stripping the plaster/plasterboard off and replacing.

Thanks

Ste

David_Aldred

Hi Steven,
If the brickwork is saturated from a plumbing leak, even though it has recently been resolved the rate of drying down will be very slow at around 25mm wall thickness per calender month so remedial works need to be of a specification to deal with this because if incorrect it will be a waste of time and money.

I would tend to photograph everything with a date stamped camera and write down the series of events with dates etc then contact your own insurer for their advice in the first instance. Hope this helps, kindest regards, David