Vendor's survey has found damp....

Ms_Piggy_2

Apparently, the survey the vendors of my house have had done had said there is 'some evidence' of rising damp and has recommended a chemical DPC quoting £1,500.

Does anyone have any experience of this kind of thing? I've already taken £5k off the price, so am not really willing to go much lower TBH.

Is it worth getting a second quote at all?

Any other advice?

TIA

ETA: Then again, reading all this about a property crash, mebbe I'm just best off taking their money and running??
BTW, here's the house:
http://search.estate-software.co.uk/details2.aspx?propertyid=465132966&resultspagenumber=1

WaveyDave_2

Are you the person selling the house, or buying (the vendor is the seller).

The fact they've had a quote in the survey suggests they've had a damp survey carried out, rather than a homebuyer's survey. Some companies offer a "free" survey, but what you have to consider is that they are in the business of selling damp proofing, so how unbiased is their survey going to be?

If you aren't happy about it, you could get a damp survey carried out yourself. Have you noticed any evidence of damp yourself?

Doozergirl

Well, they'd need to get a damp specialist out to confirm the damp, after the survey in order to get a proper quote. You can try and stand your ground; tell them they've got your lowest price and you can't afford to move or agree to go halves maybe.

Your link doesn't work for me

Ms_Piggy_2

WaveyDave wrote:

Are you the person selling the house, or buying (the vendor is the seller).

My mistake! I'm the vendor, not them, so the seller's survey has found damp. Unfortunately I can't edit the title.

WaveyDave wrote:

The fact they've had a quote in the survey suggests they've had a damp survey carried out, rather than a homebuyer's survey. Some companies offer a "free" survey, but what you have to consider is that they are in the business of selling damp proofing, so how unbiased is their survey going to be?

That was my worry TBH

WaveyDave wrote:

Have you noticed any evidence of damp yourself?

None att all - although TBH, I'm not sure what I would be looking for.
I may have to shell out for my own survey.....

Doozergirl

How old is the house? If you don't have a sufficient DPC then most buyers will want one once the word is mentioned, regardless of whether you have damp.

Of course, have your own survey, but they won't trust yours as much as you don't trust theirs! Have you seen the results of their survey? I'd be asking for the specific part, just in case they're trying it on.

Ms_Piggy_2

Doozergirl wrote:

How old is the house? If you don't have a sufficient DPC then most buyers will want one once the word is mentioned, regardless of whether you have damp.

Of course, have your own survey, but they won't trust yours as much as you don't trust theirs! Have you seen the results of their survey? I'd be asking for the specific part, just in case they're trying it on.

To be fair, it is an older house (1930s) in a terrace. There is a DP in place.

I've spoken to the EA who has read the part out to me saying it needs a approved chemical DPC, replastering etc.

Doozergirl

If you get your own survey, you might want to see if it's the internal structural walls. These often get missed and they can bring up damp too.

thesaint

Why not just get a quote for the work, isn't that cheaper than a survey(possibly free)?

Ms_Piggy_2

thesaint wrote:

Why not just get a quote for the work, isn't that cheaper than a survey(possibly free)?

Thanks. That makes sense.

MJMum

Depends how desperate you are to sell, and frankly how much you are selling for (ie an extra £1500 on a £400k purchase is a bit different to a £100k purchase). But presumably, their offer was "subject to survey", and since this has come up in the survey, there is a risk that they will pull out if they either can't afford, or won't afford, to pay for this work themselves.

If I were in your position, I'd probably get some other quotes, and offer to pay half the cost. If they pulled out, and you got another set of buyers, chances are they will have the place surveyed as well, so you will probably get the same issue again then anyway.

Ms_Piggy_2

House aws on for £115k, I accepted £110 from first time buyers as they promised a quick sale.

The idea of getting some other quotes and offering a 50/50 split makes sense.