Damp caused by leak nextdoor

Mrwilkins

For as long as I can remember we have had damp on all the walls ajoined with next door. We have plaster boarded over where we can but it is getting too much now, and is causing damage to the kitchen units as well as the walls
We believe nextdoor must have a leak as there is water coming out from where the houses join in the back garden onto the patio, even when it’s been dry for days.
The problem is the neighbors are not the type of people to care it is private house and we don’t get on.
Is there anything legally that we can do?

-taff

First thing to do is find out exactly where the damp is coming from.

Mrwilkins

That's the problem. I've had the water board up and proved there is no leak on on the fresh and sewerage side.

Mrwilkins

It's got to be in the house. How do I go about getting it sorted?

-taff

You'll need to remove the plasterboard walls/units etc to see where the wall is getting damp, to see if you have a damp proof course etc.


What type of house have you got and is the kitchen an extension?

Mrwilkins

It a semi detached with our house sitting lower than next door. They have a double fronted house. Ours is a single but comes out the front longer. Both togeather form an L shape. The connection wall runs the living room and kitchen and is wet all along

macman

Letter Before Action then, if they have refused to remedy the problem.

-taff

macman wrote: »

Letter Before Action then, if they have refused to remedy the problem.

Really? They don't even know what's causing the damp yet!


OP, you need to find out if you acually have a damp proof course along your boundary walls? The fact that your house sits lower and the problem is along the adjoining walls suggests not.

armchaireconomist

Speak to them? It's in both your interests to resolve the issue. If yours is bad and it's definitely on their side then surely theirs must be much worse.

Ant555

Mrwilkins wrote: »

there is water coming out from where the houses join in the back garden onto the patio, even when it’s been dry for days.

Is this water you can actually see seeping out of the wall between the houses? If so then is it at ground level or higher up the wall?

Or is it water seeping up onto the patio

Mrwilkins

The water comes out where the end of the our house is. They have a kitchen extension on the back of the house with bathroom upstairs. Because of the extension. The toilet waste pipe is buried into the wall.