What to do about damp

Doozergirl

It's just matter of bring the ground level away from the DPC so it sits 150mm below the DPC. 

In your situation, you'd create a french drain.  Bring the boundary of the block paving back about a foot from the house, dig a small trench along that line and backfill with gravel so its 150mm below DPC. 

Same with the grass.  Create a flower bed or something, where the soil is 150mm below DPC.  No new big bushes against the wall though.  

Inside can probably be left to dry out, unless the skirting is rotting and needs replacing.  

JuzaMum

Thanks to everyone for their helpful comments. We do have cavity wall insulation but it has been in for years. We will get a French drain I think. Thankfully it appears the worst of the weather is over so it hopefully will not get worse whilst we get in sorted. Further examination of the ground level following round the house it appears the damp course has been breached all along one wall but there is no damp there. I think we will deal with that before it does.