Damp proof coursing Required in homebuyers survey

notreallysureaboutallthis

Hi everyone,

I have read around some of the threads on here about surveys and homebuyers reports and have seen that a lot of surveyors mention that damp proofing, boilers and electrics all usually get a Level 3, urgent. I've just had a homebuyers done that has returned a Level 3 and it has suggested to check that there is an existing guarantee on damp proof coursing done to the property as there is evidence of there being a dpc but there is excessive moisture readings on pretty much all the walls and the floor is sagging slightly.

The surveyor suggested urgently getting it checked out by a professional and to budget for the costs of getting dpc done. Its a one bed ground floor flat that is fairly small but non the less I'm a bit concerned by the survey results as the vendor has now said they never had dpc put it and they bought the property some 7/8 years ago.

When i viewed the property there was no visible signs of damp and no smell, should I get a professional to check it? What proof do I have that they will do a fair job and not want work out of it and will their report give me any kind of guarantee or readings to put my mind at rest? If there is damp can I renegotiate the costs? I'm about to sign the papers to agree a sale price should i wait first.

If anyone has any experience or recommendations for damp proofing experts please let me know.

Thanks kindly in advance :T

motherofstudents

The likelihood is that no dpc will be needed but if you want to get it checked, make sure you get an independent damp surveyor. Do not get a dpc company round as they will obviously want to sell you a dpc ! You will have to pay for an independent damp survey, last one I had was £165. If you have seen no evidence of damp, maybe you could take a decent builder round who can give you an opinion, however the same advice applies, they may just want work.

G_M

Has your mortgage lender (if you are getting one) made this a condition of the mortgage? If so, you have little choice.

If they have not (or you are paying cash) it is up to you.

as advised above, do NOT get a 'free survey' done by a dpc company. They will send round a salesman who will recomend..... a new dpc (or similar) which his company can provide...

Pay for an independant expert/.

gavinh1175

We are selling our house - our buyer's homebuyer survey picked up damp.

There are no visual signs or smell, but the surveyor's damp meter still picked up damp.

Buyer's mortgage lender instructed them to get works done by a PCA registered firm. Mortgage won't be released until works have been carried out.

There is only 1 registered PCA firm in my area so had to go with them. They recommended a new DPC. Our hands are tied, had to get works done otherwise our sale can't proceed.

kingstreet

Find an independent damp surveyor in your area;-

http://www.independentdampsurveyors.co.uk/

notreallysureaboutallthis

thanks so much for the responses, the sellers estate agents have agreed to offer one for free, sounds a bit dodgy but i asked over and over again about a guarantee of the work so I will make sure that they are registered.

SG27

notreallysureaboutallthis wrote: »

thanks so much for the responses, the sellers estate agents have agreed to offer one for free, sounds a bit dodgy but i asked over and over again about a guarantee of the work so I will make sure that they are registered.

Ours offered a free survey. I declined and paid for my own independant damp and timber report which was £225. I don't know if the agents guy would have been independent or even if he would intentionally overlook things to get the sale to go though.

kingstreet

The agent will use a firm which has an interest in finding work which it will get paid for doing. That's how reports are "free."

Pay for an independent report by a surveyor of your choice. Less chance of being quoted for unnecessary work.

vectistim

gavinh1175 wrote: »

We are selling our house - our buyer's homebuyer survey picked up damp.

There are no visual signs or smell, but the surveyor's damp meter still picked up damp.

The surveyor's damp meter is a pretty crude tool - they're calibrated for wood, and all it is really is a multimeter that looks at the resistance between the two probes (wet wood conducts electricity so the needle twitches if you stick a damp meter into damp wood), if there's been historic damp in the property this would have generally produced salts in the plaster which make it conduct and therefore gets the needle twitching.