Would you buy a house that doesn't have a damp proof course?

mandym

I'm currently hoping to buy a house. I've had a structural survey carried out but the surveyor has said that he cannot see any evidence of a damp proof course on any of the elevations. He added that it could be covered up by pointing and at the rear of the property, the rendering would have covered it up.

The vendors don't know if there is one or not, they just say that they haven't had any problems.

The estate agents had a damp survey carried out due to the level of earth piled up against the rear wall but they didn't ask the damp surveyor to see if he could find evidence of a DPC as he only looked at the rear elevation which is rendered.

The structural survey didn't find any damp at all but I am worried about buying a house that doesn't have a damp proof course.

All advice gratefully received especially as the estate agents are pushing me to let me know if I'm going to proceed or not and saying that they've had higher offers for the property.

Thanking you in advance.

mrginge

How old is the house?

mandym

Thanks for replying. It's a 1930s mid-terraced ex-local authority house.

theartfullodger

That would depend on what the place looked like, any evidence of damp & what the price was.

Doh!

AdrianC

Not only would I, but I have. This place doesn't have one, but it's been standing here for about 320 years without too much issue.

Any house built after 1875, though, was required by law to have a DPC - so a '30s place certainly will have. Whether you can find it is another question.

"Rising damp" is a vicious rumour. It doesn't. It does penetrate, though, usually from earth of leaf mulch above DPC level.

eddddy

mandym wrote: »

I've had a structural survey carried out but the surveyor has said that he cannot see any evidence of a damp proof course on any of the elevations. He added that it could be covered up by pointing and at the rear of the property, the rendering would have covered it up.

Is the surveyor flagging this as an issue, or just making an observation?

If your not sure, it might be worth asking.

G_M

Why are you so concerned about whether there is a DPC? (there almost certainly is - as surveyor says, it's hidden)?

mandym wrote: »

....the surveyor has said that he cannot see any evidence of a damp proof course........ it could be covered up by pointing and at the rear of the property, the rendering would have covered it up.

The vendors don't know if there is one or not, they just say that they haven't had any problems.

The estate agents had a damp survey carried out ......
and that survey said what? That the house is damp? Or not?

The structural survey didn't find any damp at all.......

If a 90 year old house has no damp, why would you care if it is dry because it has a DPC, or despite not having one?

Doozergirl

It will have one. As said, it may well not be visible.

I wouldn't have a problem with it. There is always the option of installing a chemical one, athough it would be the last resort for me. I don't believe that it would need anything adding if it had stood happily for 90 years without interference. Any future problem will have a cause that can rectified at a lower cost than an injected DPC and associated faffing.

Owain_Moneysaver

mandym wrote: »

Thanks for replying. It's a 1930s mid-terraced ex-local authority house.

Probably one of the best built houses you could buy.

End terrace would be nicer. Do you have an alley or other access to the back garden?

prosaver

heres how to spot the damp proof level,
See the colour of the brick on the ground is different because it wet and the bricks are dry 1.5 bricks higher

mandym

Thank you all so much for your replies, they've been extremely useful. I'm very grateful