Damp in home - want to sell

katepower

Hi all,


My partner is looking to sell his 1900s terraced house and has had an offer, which is good!


A while ago we noticed white mould in the loft. The wood was solid and didn't appear to be rotting, so we were told all that was needed was for it to be cleaned off.


We have had Rentokil come round today, and they have said that the house has rising damp in all three rooms downstairs and will need treating. Apparently they used some sort of damp monitor and the readings came back quite high. The treatment apparently will be very expensive, and if not treated will certainly be picked up by the buyer's surveyor.


I just wanted to know where we stood, how bad rising damp problems are, and what the treatment involves. I have had a look online and it seems that a lot of companies will charge for damp treatment that doesn't need doing, although from what my partner said regarding the damp reading I don't think this would be the case.


It might be worth mentioning that my partner developed allergies/runny nose/snoring since moving into the house seven years ago, which he never had before. He went to see a specialist and no cause was found. I have a feeling this speaks volumes.


What I am after is just a bit of advice on where we stand if possible


Thanks,


Kate.

ariba10

I would Beg, Buy or Borrow a dehumidifir and have that running for a week or so.

Asking companies that sell Damp treatment is like going into Kwikfit or Halfords and asking then if there is anything wrong with your car!

Jonesya

Personally I wouldn't just take their word for it, I'd start doing my own investigations on the house.

Like outside, is there any damp proof course? Has it been bridged by rendering or the ground level having been raised by soil/paving/concrete? Are there any vents for airing space beneath a suspended floor which have become blocked? Is anything directing water onto the wall, say like damaged guttering, a leaking drain pipe, run off from window sills etc?

Also, is it definitely damp, get a humidity meter to rule out condensation etc.

When I was considering buying an old property I bought a good book ' Victorian house manual' haynes manual for a house! Has some good advice on various issues you get with these types of properties.

Doozergirl

White mold in the loft would bear NO relation to any supposed rising damp. If there is no evidence of damp downstairs then it doesn't exist.

Was the white mould in the loft actually wet/live? Might indicate a leaky roof, but definitely not a breached damp proof course.

There is always a reason, always. You need to
a) find evidence of dampness, not take notice of a meter in the hands of someone who sells DPCs
b) If you find evidence, find reasons for it, not a treatment for the symptoms.

SG27

You won't get allergies from 'rising damp' that sounds like mould growth from condensation from high humidity. Maybe a bit of penetrating damp too if high meter readings but if there's no physical signs around the bottom of walls then I wouldn't be too concerned about that.

dampdaveski

Kate,
Mould in the Loft
If you can get a little spray bottle, fill it with tap water and squirt a bit onto the 'mould' if it disappears (i.e. dissolves) then it is salt, to be more precise efflorescence, this implies that the roof has been wet previously and now dried out. If it stays then it could be mould growth, this might imply that you have an inherant ventilation problem in the loft.

Humidity Meter?
Don't waste your money, the reading will change depending on the time of day you use it, whether the heating is on or even if you just breathe on it! that sort of mentality will lead you to spend money on crap you just don't need.

Rentokil
I'm not going to start slagging companies off on here, get an alternative survey done by a reputable local preservation company to compare, they should be a member of the PCA, why? because they are vetted,have to have PI insurance etc.
Go for a single branch owner operator, i.e. the owner is the surveyor, why? because it's his or her reputation and knackers on the block if there is a problem AND he has to sort it out, not just pass it onto his regional manager.
If you want get a survey from an independant who is also a member of the PCA.
Now believe it or not there are some bloody good ethical owner operators out there who despise conmen with a passion, how do I know? I'm one of them!:D

Allergies
Can't comment on your other halfs allergies, but one of the most common causes of increased 'asthmaey' stuff in houses is dust mites (or to be more precise their turds) they reproduce much more when a property has a long term condensation problem and more dust mites = more dust mite turds floating in the air and it is the turds that are the most common trigger for an asthma attack

Summary
Get another couple of surveys done, expect to pay for them and get at least one done by an owner operator

good luck
DD;)

Gordon_Hose

I'd definitely get an independant surveyor round to check. Cost will be £250-£300 but it'll be worth it.

Ectophile

If you're in the process of selling the house, then my recommendation would be to avoid getting anyone in to look at it at all.

The last thing you want at this stage is someone telling you that the house has serious damp problems and will cost thousands to fix. That's because there is always the risk that the buyer's solicitor will ask about such things, and you'll then be left with the choice of either admitting to the problem or lying to them. If you don't know anything, then you don't have to disclose anything.

Clean off the white stuff with a bit of something containing bleach. Then forget about it. There was no damp, just a bit of cleaning that needed doing to make the house more presentable.

sniggings

Ectophile wrote: »

If you're in the process of selling the house, then my recommendation would be to avoid getting anyone in to look at it at all.

The last thing you want at this stage is someone telling you that the house has serious damp problems and will cost thousands to fix. That's because there is always the risk that the buyer's solicitor will ask about such things, and you'll then be left with the choice of either admitting to the problem or lying to them. If you don't know anything, then you don't have to disclose anything.

Clean off the white stuff with a bit of something containing bleach. Then forget about it. There was no damp, just a bit of cleaning that needed doing to make the house more presentable.

too late, the OP has already been told there is a problem. (be it correct or not)

ljonski

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g0Cz5TUkPM&list=PLECF3E519833B7080

martin1959

Just pray that the buyers only have a mortgage valuation as opposed to a survey. They do not normally inspect the roof void on a valuation!