Can drying plaster cause damp reading in survey?

Sarahkpd

I'm in the process of buying my first house (3 bed mid Victorian terrace) and recently had a RISCS level two survey completed. The survey reported that there is damp in the walls of the ground floor and within the chimney stack in the roof space that required urgent attention (score 3).

I asked the estate agent if the house had had a damp proof course and if the seller had the relevant guarantees. The estate agent said that the seller usually does damp proof and he will ask about guarantees. He then said that the damp could just be down to where the walls have been re-plastered and the damp areas are where the plaster is still drying. Is this possible? Would drying plaster show as damp on a meter reading? There was at least a month between my first viewing and the survey and the plaster had already been painted over then.

A bit about the house: It is currently owned by a builder who had previously rented it out, he has now refurbished it to sell, so it's had fresh plaster, new carpets, kitchen, bathroom, boiler ect.


Any help much appreciated!

teneighty

double post https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5630497