Homebuyer's report states house needs damp proofing.

worcestersource

I'm the potentail buyer of a 2 up 2 down with cellar house built in 1900. Though I didn't smell damp when I viewed the property (except the cellar). I was presented with a rather alarming list of issues that are contributing to damp in the property.,when I got homebuyer's report. Paradoxically, the RICS surveyor asserted the property was worth it's purchase price and a subsequent mortgage offer was obtained quite easily. I have read some reports on here these reports are full of hyperbole regarding defects and issues to cover themselves against litigation.


Reports states...


Chimney Stacks-damp within stacks
Small number of Gutter joists leaking

Main Walls damp, some ground level bricks crumbling, mortar fallen away and led to further damp damage


According to the legal work the vendors have a damp proofing guarantee which I'm not sure will cover the work or how much it's likely to cost? The report says the damproofing needs to be surveyed by a PCA expert and repairs and damp proofing carried out.





ri

Owain_Moneysaver

worcestersource wrote: »

Though I didn't smell damp when I viewed the property (except the cellar).

It's probably not damp then.

worcestersource wrote: »

According to the legal work the vendors have a damp proofing guarantee which I'm not sure will cover the work or how much it's likely to cost?

Well, if they've had damproofing work already done why is the property damp?

worcestersource wrote: »

The report says the damproofing needs to be surveyed by a PCA expert and repairs and damp proofing carried out.

Oh dear.

https://www.heritage-house.org/building-surveys/the-scam-of-rics-timber-and-damp-reports/

the PCA is a chemical industry association with no academic or professional credibility. Its members are chemical or damp proofing salesmen. They have no academic qualifications.
...
Immediately write / telephone RICS and complain that the valuation surveyor is recommending a course of action that involves an unqualified person from an organisation with no academic or professional recognition in the field of work required. Ask why the RICS surveyor is being allowed to recommend such a person as this constitutes fraudulent misrepresentation.

G_M

worcestersource wrote: »

..
Chimney Stacks-damp within stacks

not usually hard/expensive to fix. Either cap the chimney to stop rain entering (with air-flow retained, and/or repoint the stack if required an/or insert a cople of air brick or other means of venlation.

Small number of Gutter joists leaking :rotfl:Minor maintenance. Put it on the list.

Main Walls damp,

caused by...? Maybe water leaking from the gutters above is running down the walls and penetrating. Fix the gutters!
Or may be something else but ask the surveyor to identify the cause.

some ground level bricks crumbling, mortar fallen away and led to further damp damage
So needs some re-pointing.



According to the legal work the vendors have a damp proofing guarantee which I'm not sure will cover the work

depends what the guarantee covers (probably a damp proof course) and what the causes of damp are (probably not the damp proof course)
or how much it's likely to cost? The report says the damproofing needs to be surveyed by a PCA expert and repairs and damp proofing carried out.
ri

Often common sense can identify the cause and then a builder can quote.
Or a builder can do both.
Or pay an independant damp surveyor to identify the cause an recommend a cure.

FreeBear

G_M wrote: »

worcestersource wrote: »

some ground level bricks crumbling, mortar fallen away and led to further damp damage

So needs some re-pointing.

Turn of the century house, the bricks will be stuck in with lime mortar. Easy enough to scrape away the mortar (I used a plasterboard pad saw for the last lot). Remove the spalled bricks and replace with some that are a good match - You may need to raid the local building reclaim yard. Use a pure lime mortar to bed the bricks in with, and use the same mortar for any repointing. Most lime suppliers can do a colour matching service for the mortar if you want the new joints to blend in.