Rising damp in Sentinel Part Buy Part Rent property - whose responsibility??

littletiger82

Hi all,

I have part ownership of a new (2.5 years old) ground floor maisonette. The other half is owned by Sentinel, who also own the freehold for the block.

Over the last year I have noticed that the two bedrooms have smelt damp and musty. Shoes in my wardrobe have gone mouldy and today I've pulled the bed away from the wall to find mould growing jus above the skirting board. This is in the corner farthest from the window in both rooms. The garage is on the other side so it's not an external wall, and there don't seem to be any damp problems in the garage.

The rooms are both well ventilated and I don't use them to dry clothes in.

I tried calling Sentinel last year and they told me that due to me owning half the flat it's my problem to deal with, despite the fact that they hold the buildings insurance, and it's such a new property, surely it shouldn't be damp already?

I'm guessing this is rising damp. Does anyone know whose responsibility it would be to deal with it in these circumstances? And any ideas how to fix it/how much it will cost if it is my responsibility??

Thanks in advance!

Yolina

I guess it will all depend on exactly what is causing the damp... Normally if it's definitely something coming from outside then it should be the responsibility of the freeholder/management company to get sorted. The leaseholder is usually responsible for internal pipes and suchlike. Best to dig out all your paperwork and read through it carefully. It could also be that the mould is simply caused by air not being able to circulate properly behind furniture particularly if it's pushed right up against a wall.

keystone

I do not believe you have rising damp.

What I do beleive is that you have condensation forming behind furniture where there is no air movement and when warm humid air falls on cold walls you will get condensation and mould growth as a result.

Cheers

budgetdiyer

I'm with Keystone here.

Rising damp does not normally grow mould.

Rising or penetrating damp normally shows as a 'tide' mark / damp 'patch' on a wall.

Doozergirl

I agree that it doesn't exactly sound like rising damp but a brand new build wall shouldn't be cold though, should it? It would be stuffed full of insulation? Or is it because it's the garage and the wall between house and garage isn't insulated? (which makes little sense as garages are cold)

I think I'd be gutted if I'd bought a new build and there was mould growing on the walls and inside wardrobes :eek:

Are your trickle vents open on the windows, OP? Bathroom extractors working? There's moisture coming from somewhere, it may not be at exactly the point that you're finding mould, but I think I'd be speaking to NHBC.

Got any pictures?

ariba10

Have a read of this.

http://www.harfordsonline.com/downloads/condensation%20info.pdf

littletiger82

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful.

I agree that it now sounds more like condensation than rising damp. I am doing everything I can already to prevent it, but evidently that isn't enough! The wall between the bedroom and garage is always very cold to the touch and this makes the whole room very cold, even when the heating is on. I'm guessing from this that this wall hasn't been insulated (the garage being on the other side). Should the builders have insulated this wall in the first place? (My thoughts being that this is the wall that most needs insulating due to the garage remaining at a constant, cold temperature!).

I've spoken to Sentinel and they're sending someone out this week to have a look.

budgetdiyer

If that wall is cold that is exactly where condensation will form. If it were me (assuming its your garage?!) i'd line the inside of the garage wall with additional insulation celotex or similar (rather than loft style insulation).