What sort of damp is this?

pheebean

Hello, just wanting to get a few opinions before further investigation is underaken as I have 0 experience with this sort of thing. 
New house, under bay window the wall has marks (water marks?) and wallpaper is peeling off.
Would this be rising damp? 
Edwardian terrace house and Full Building Survey conducted said that there were high level damp readings on this wall. 
Air bricks are visible and no sign of a leak from a gutter etc.
Apologies for dark picture, can't get a better one until I visit the property again!
Thanks in advance. 

neilmcl

No such thing as rising damp. Being as it's under the window against a solid exterior wall I'd suggest it is condensation.

It's always a good idea when posting pics like this to also post an image of the exterior side too.

daveyjp

Potential for penetrating damp too, check the external pointing, the drip tip on the external window sill and that the window is sealed properly.

pheebean

Thanks, will check the windows but external wall looks fine. 
When you say 'no such thing as rising damp' can you explain why?

neilmcl

pheebean said:

Thanks, will check the windows but external wall looks fine. 
When you say 'no such thing as rising damp' can you explain why?

Too long to go into full detail but the idea of rising damp is that water rises up a brick work course via capillary action, this simply doesn't happen. Up until the turn of the 20th century buildings have been built and been standing for hundreds of years without damp proof courses and have never had issues with "rising damp". There are only two ways you can get damp, from direct water penetration and ingress or via condensation.