Damp cellar in old house - thoughts?

del1rious

Hello,

We are in the process of selling our house, it is a mid terrace constructed (I believe) sometime in the 1870s. The structural survey has come back highlighting issues with damp in the cellar, as well as possible damp issues with timber in the roof possibly due to the chimney needing some repairs. The buyer has requested a damp and timber survey; the chimney issue I am not overly concerned with as this is not to expensive to rectify (from my research).

However, they are pushing queries over the damp issues with the cellar and whether it was ever damp-proofed which I don't believe it was. The rest of the house is still under warranty for timber treatments and damp proof coursing which was done in the late 90's. 

My question really is how much of a problem could this create? I am reluctant to spend ££££ on getting the cellar tanked when we would have never intended it to be a habitable space, and to my mind it comes part of the parcel with old houses that cellars are damp as they are of course underground. There is never any standing water but condensation forms on the wall, stored nails go rusty etc. Any thoughts would be welcomed!

Thanks

princeofpounds

That's entirely down to the buyers. Damp cellars in old properties are normal. They aren't habitable spaces and not even that useful for storage for obvious reasons. You're selling it 'as is'. If the buyers want to tank it to create new space, that's up to them, it will add value. The key question is whether the damp in the cellar is creating damp issues for the rest of the structure - it usually doesn't. 

Falafels

Cellars in old houses are normally damp. It's part of the job description. Just be honest with your buyers, and leave it at that.

If they want to do something about it, then that's their prerogative once they've bought it. You still have timber and damp warranties in place for the rest of the house, which should be their main concern.

Are the queries coming direct from your buyer, or their solicitor? If the latter, don't worry - strange queries are par for the course! 

greatcrested

Damp in an 1870s cellar? Who'd have believed it possible!?

The surprise would be if it was not damp underground!

What do you use the cellar for? A bedroom?

Falafels

greatcrested said:

Damp in an 1870s cellar? Who'd have believed it possible!?

The surprise would be if it was not damp underground!

What do you use the cellar for? A bedroom?

It would be very good storage space for a toad collection. Have these people no imagination?

del1rious

Falafels said:

Cellars in old houses are normally damp. It's part of the job description. Just be honest with your buyers, and leave it at that.

If they want to do something about it, then that's their prerogative once they've bought it. You still have timber and damp warranties in place for the rest of the house, which should be their main concern.

Are the queries coming direct from your buyer, or their solicitor? If the latter, don't worry - strange queries are par for the course! 

Thanks - I have said this to them in effect. It is coming from their solicitor!

macman

Tell them they are welcome to commission any inspections that they wish to-at their expense. 

Falafels

macman said:

Tell them they are welcome to commission any inspections that they wish to-at their expense. 

With a pair of hazel rods....

Rambosmum

Honestly, what will they ask next, whether water comes out of the tap? Its a cellar, a part of the house below the ground! I'm astounded at the number of people who think cellars should be dry. 

del1rious

Rambosmum said:

Honestly, what will they ask next, whether water comes out of the tap? Its a cellar, a part of the house below the ground! I'm astounded at the number of people who think cellars should be dry. 

This is what I'm talking about! Just having a look at some of the threads on here a lot of people seem to think it unbelievable that a cellar may be damp. 

Furthermore, it has been damp down there for over 150 years- surely if this was going to be problematic then the house would have fallen down by now.