FTB help - Reducing offer price after survey damp concerns

LondonS30

Doozergirl wrote: »

Do not damp proof it. Unless it's partially underground then damp proofing is going to do nothing.

I'm amazed you paid £240 for someone who pointed out above ground problems and then suggested damp proofing, which is supposed to be for under ground level problems! It doesn't make any sense at all.

Think you found yourself another snake oil salesperson, unless you've missed some detail off about where the damp is coming from.

What didnthey actually say about the floor levels? Suspended floor or solid? Air bricks? Where is the ground level in relation to the original damp proof course?

Thanks for this. Yeh I'm starting to think that!!
It's abit confusing/ over my head to be honest. The flat is ground floor. High moisture readings were found in conservatory at the back (not unexpected), toilet and one wall of bedroom and rusting angle bees in kitchen. I'm not sure regarding this as they were unable to assess the timbers except in a small section. There are DPC holes in the front bay suggesting evidence of previous damp proofing.

Part of the recommendations from report say:

"The external defects should take priority and the walls given time to dry before considering further rising damp treatment but where this is deemed to be necessary the plaster should be removed to at least 300mm beyond the last sign of damp (minimum one metre above the DPC) and replaced as described on page 3. A floorboard should be lifted to the rear of the bedroom prior to undertaking any works on the hallway and toilet side to ascertain if the earth beneath the bedroom floor is above or below the floot level."

In summary this could all be due to the blocked gutters, leaking down pipes etc but he couldn't say it would definitely not require damp proofing in future.

Does that make sense?
Any opinions would be valued as I'm such a clueless newbie!

Crashy_Time

SG27 wrote: »

"they cannot hold up exchange over this point as isn't the sellers responsibility and will be sorted "in due course."

You can hold up exchange as long as you wish, for whatever reason you wish. And it is the sellers responsibility to put pressure on the freeholder to get this sorted.

Similarly you can reduce your offer for whatever reason you want.

Don't let the estate agent bully you.

Good advice.