I Need Serious Help!

Doozergirl

What you have to do is stop the talk of handing back the keys to the mortgage company. Do either of you have parents that can help you out? It is a big deal for someone of 19, I know I'd have felt the same way as you do now!

You have to work out exactly what the problem is. £14k sounds like about 10times the cost of a damp proof course. I'd expect it to be high if part of your flat is underground or has earth right up against the outside walls but this is something that I think even a mortgage valuation would have highlighted.

When you were quoted this price did they provide you with a 'specification' of what needs doing? What you must do is get three quotes from Damp & Timber specialists and ask them to explain to you exactly what is wring in their opinion. If nothing else, it will help establish whether the £14k is a made up number.

I agree with Dave Belushi that mould indicates condensation, not rising damp and the fact it started in the ceiling backs that up. Do any of the gutters leak when it rains? Are there any green or wet patches on the walls?

Does the flat have double glazing? Are there any vents in it that you can open? Are there any vents in the walls? Are there chimney breasts? If so, are they open fireplaces or have they been blocked? If blocked, are there vents in the chimney breasts?

Is the mould on all of your walls? Inside or outside walls? Do you have a tumble drier?

Sorry for all the questions! It might help establish the reason though You need to do at least that before you give up!

seven-day-weekend

If it is condensation (black mould) it is easily fixed by cleaning it off, treating it with an anti fungicide and then making sure the place is well heated and ventilated, especiallly if using a tumble dryer or similar appliance.

I had this on a ground floor flat that I owned; it cost £300 for the chap next door to do it, but we only asked him because we were in Spain, you can do it yourself easily.

Do not hand the keys back, it won't get rid of your problem as you will still owe money.

And don't think you've been stupid, or done anything wrong, you haven't.

It sounds like condensation to me, it sounds just like what happened in my flat and it's dead easy to put right. Don't worry!

silvercar

the house was built in 1900? this suggests that you may have solid walls. not a problem but the problems caused by condensation will be worse. the inside walls will be cold to touch, with poor ventilation, mould will spread easily.

being honest, do you open the windows every day?

clareandlee

We do have some trouble with rising damp only in the kitchen. The main room where the problems are has a flat roof(the person who lives above has to make over this to get into his flat) the walls are wet, and black from the damp. The problems in our bedroom are only at the side of the window, where it is turning black and the paint is flaking off, same trouble in the living room. The only room with now damp trouble is the bathroom.

Yes we do open the windows everyday and the property is well heated.

Thanks guys x

silvercar

generally all the flats in the house share the costs that relate to the building. so whatever happens someone else will share the costs and the burdens of putting it right.

Doozergirl

So the flat roof is failing by the sound of it. The cost of both that and any rising damp should be shared between both you and your upstairs neighbour and your freeholder needs to be made aware. The cost of both of those together shouldn't even be half of £14,000 and you can halve that again if your neighbour is paying too.

Do you have a copy of your lease? You can check that to see how work should be divided.

Damp by the windows is almost certainly ventilation which can be eradicated pretty easily and with the cost of a few quid with more vents. I solved it entirely in a Victorian ground floor flat by reinstating the fireplace as it provides ventialtion and looked much prettier than plastic or brushed steel vent covers. Appreciating the tight budget, you just need to get someone to drill nice big holes through the walls and put vent covers over them! Chimney breast too, the ventilation that would have been provided originally is very important to a Victorian house!

clareandlee

Just downloading the lease details from the website above and they freeholder turns out to be the owner of the flat above (he does not live there he rents it out) and is also a famous tv star from the 1990s and owns a few businesses from around this area. Am not sure what to do now? oh and also no fireplaces. Years ago this used to be a shop was converted into flats in 1997

djm1972

clareandlee wrote:

Just downloading the lease details from the website above and they freeholder turns out to be the owner of the flat above (he does not live there he rents it out) and is also a famous tv star from the 1990s and owns a few businesses from around this area. Am not sure what to do now?

Don't let any public status of the freeholder phase you at all; if they are your landlord they have a legal obligation to you regardless - and i'm sure they would treat any approach you made to them with confidence and respect (and in return of course, so would you)

Take in the advice given above; and if you think that contact with the landlord is necessary (assuming you can obtain contact details) then get in touch...!

It may even be worth getting in touch anyway - perhaps they don't know of the problem and would be thankful to be made aware of a structural issue with their property!

Doozergirl

I really wanna know who it is!

Wings

Whilst posters have had good intentions with their postings of advice it is however impossible on a forum like this to say what is a damp problem and what is condensation, since the former will incure/increase the latter.

You need to contact three damp proofing companies in your local area, and obtain their advice and estimates for doing the remedial works.

I did take a look at your profile to see if you were in my area,Bristol, since the problems you have posted are the same problems that I am experiencing with a property I have recently purchased.

In my case the mould on the ceilings was due to the wrong mix of plaster being used on old walls that contained lime, the lime reacting with the plaster. The three quotes ranged between £2500-£4000.

Mould can be treated with a mild bleach, and if you want to "tart" up the ceilings use a Mat emulsion paint,Johnsons do one that is anti mold.

Give the property plenty of ventilation, if using heating ensure it is a dry heat,not a mobile gas heater that will incease condensation.

You need to go back to your solicitor who acted for you on the purchase of your home, and post back to us on how you get on, good luck