Damp survey did not pick up damp

suski1

I have recently bought my first house and had a damp survey undertaken as part of the mortgage process (end of April 15) the survey picked up damp in the kitchen so the seller dropped price to cover damp work. Since moving in, I have found rising damp by the chimney breast in the living room. This was not picked up on the survey.

Should this have been picked up? If yes, am I able to claim any sort of compensation?

Many thanks in advance

Hoploz

Could it be that the damp at the bottom of the chimney could be cause by a leak, eg loose flashing? This could have been dry if it hadn't rained for a while, but only shows itself after rain?

Just a thought, looking out the window here at the pouring rain!!

G_M

Doubt if it's rising damp. Condition of chimney brickwork? Top of chimney capped? External groundlevel? Gutters/downpipes?

Should it have been picked up? Depends

* if it was there at the time or is a recent development
* if it was hidden eg by furniture, fitted carpet, etc

If you can show it was reasonable to expect a competant suveyor to spot a problem that existed at the time, then yes, it should have been picked up. And you are due compensation for the cost of fixing it.

Step one is to speak to the surveyor and/or his firm.
Step two if necessary is to get a 2nd professional opinion ie by paying another surveyor to review the damp and write a report

Landofwood

I'd love to see a picture of this "rising damp"!

GolfFoxtrot

Often chimney breasts didn't / don't have any damp proof course in them, the simplest thing to do is to use the chimney keeping any damp at bay.

True rising damp is extremely rare, who diagnosed this?