Would damp put you off buying somewhere?

leftism

We viewed a place. It’s perfect, at the very top of our budget, but is cheap compared to other houses on the same street because it needs a lot of tlc, having been rented out for years. The only problem is, the master bedroom has a large area of damp by one side of the window.

It immediately made us think we couldn’t buy it. But is this a silly thing to not buy a house over?

I don’t know enough about damp to know how serious it could be. But I know it’s not rising damp (which we’ve had problems with in the past) because of how high it is.

Cheers

Skiddaw1

I'd guess the damp is a result of something easily fixable. Could just be a leaky gutter or window for example. I wouldn't be put off making an offer. If you do and offer is accepted get a full survey done. You'll know then what the full extent of the problem is (and whether there is anything else more serious going on).

AdrianC

leftism wrote: »

We viewed a place. It’s perfect, at the very top of our budget, but is cheap compared to other houses on the same street because it needs a lot of tlc, having been rented out for years. The only problem is, the master bedroom has a large area of damp by one side of the window.

It immediately made us think we couldn’t buy it. But is this a silly thing to not buy a house over?

I don’t know enough about damp to know how serious it could be. But I know it’s not rising damp (which we’ve had problems with in the past) because of how high it is.

It's damp ingress from something. But what?

Water comes downwards. So look up a bit. Is the roof a bit knackered above there? The guttering? The render or mortar? Could there be a pipe in the loft that's leaking?

pinkshoes

Did you ask them what it was?

A damp patch in one room isn’t generally that serious - you just need to find where the water is getting in!

Why hasn’t the vendor sorted it? Is it because it is expensive to fix!??

Moneyminded

As long as the damp is only in a small area this wouldn't put me off. The fact that the house has been rented out for a number of years it is possible that the tenants didn't think to mention anything about it.

I would get a full survey done. The house I am in now showed that there were a couple of small damp patches and that didn't put me off buying it. Been here a couple of years and no issues.

Good luck if you decide to proceed

AdrianC

Moneyminded wrote: »

I would get a full survey done.

<gets out of time machine, waving survey>
"There's damp in a corner of the bedroom. Get a specialist damp survey."

leftism

Thanks guys. This is making me more open to buying it.

I actually took a pic of it, but the forums won’t let me post it.

It’s quite a serious looking bit of damp. But I suspect that’s because it has just gone untreated, as often happens in rented places I think!

@pinkshoes, yes I asked. Estate agent didn’t know. Haha.

AdrianC

Upload the pic to somewhere like https://imgbb.com then post a subtly disguised URL - we'll figure it.

leftism

Ahhhh, like this you mean... ibb.co/541z59B

davidmcn

AdrianC

Very like that...
https://ibb.co/541z59B


Let's see an exterior shot - but first guess would be a rotten window sill/frame letting water in, possibly with manky render on the outside where the bay meets the main wall.

The fun is going to be what other timber has been taken out by it...