Question about dampness

TriggerCut92

Hi,

I have a property about dampness on a property I own.

It's located on the ground floor of a block of flat and there is dampness coming through the walls. It's only been in the last couple of months and the tenants noticed it when they moved furniture.

I have insurance with AXA. Is this something they would cover do you think or something I'd have to fix myself?

Thanks

eddddy

It sounds like condensation. Do the tenants dry washing in the flat?

It might be covered by insurance if it's due to a leaking pipe (depending on the policy). But it doesn't sound like that's the cause.

G_M

It is either

1) caused by the tenants. ie condensation from washing, cooking etc without adequate ventilation (opening windows etc). Does the flat have extractor fans? These can help especially if they switch on automatically with lights

Instruct the tenants and warn them any damage could be charged to them

2) a structural problem with the building - eg leaking gutters, drains etc on the outside wall. This is the responsibility of the building's freeholder or management compan who you should inform in writing. They may have insurance on the building.

Your own insurance is, I assume, landlords insurance to cover contents?

Doozergirl

If you've owned the flat for a while and this is the first time then I'd get outside and look for wet walls.

Condensation issues usually come with the property rather than the occupants, unless they don'tlike heating the house. How long have you owned it?

If you get pictures of the inside and outside of the offending wall and post them on the In My Home board, we'll try to identify.

If it is from a leak then the freeholder will need to sort it, unless you're the freeholder . Damp usually has an obvious cause that is cheap to fix.