L3 survey came out full of problems, unsure what to do

pieroabcd

Hi,
after a lot of struggling I had an offer accepted on a house that I really liked. The mortgage was accepted.
I asked an L3 builder survey and so far I've received only a set of highlight, containint 34 items. 30 are rating 2, but 4 are rating3.
The most serious are: asbestos roof in the garage and damp virtually everywhere. The humidity meter records 100% in 2 spots ouf of 3, 50% in another place. According to the surveyor a reading of > 20% should be considered serious. Maybe not by coincidence there's a dehumidifier box in the loft.
There are also hints that the house may be lacking a damp course and that due to the damp the wood boards at the ground floor may be in bad conditions (they didn't dig more).
I should receive the full survey in the next few days, including a quote for the repairs.
For the damp, the suggested solution is a chemical damp proofing, but is it something that would stay for good or something that would need replacing every few years?
What about the the damp course, can it be added once and for all or would it need replacing?

I'm unsure what to do at the moment. A friend is questioning the value of this purchase. He suggested to lower the offer by the same amount as the intended repairs, and even so...

stuart45

How old is the house?

pieroabcd

90 years or so, like many it dates back to the 30s

Slithery

A chemical damp proofing is never the correct solution....
https://www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/the-fraud-of-rising-damp.html
https://www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/the-ping-prong-meter-guilty-of-fraud.html

stuart45

It should have a DPC in, but might be hidden by high ground levels. 
A chemical DPC is not the best advice for the property. If it's been neglected for a while the damp could be condensation, leaking gutters, blocked cavity, poor mortar joints and more.

canaldumidi

Do you plan to remove/do any work to the garage roof? If not, leave the asbestos alone and it will leave you alone.

I'll lay money on there being a dpc. Maybe slate. Maybe hidden esp if the externalground level is raised by eg flower bed/rockery, patio, driveway.

Damp is nearly always caused by simple things: high external ground level; leaking gutters/downpipes; poor internal ventilation; damaged pointing; etc

Wait for the report then speak othe surveyor but so far seems like no big deal...

pieroabcd

I would replace the roof, of course. I won't want to have asbestos near me and I'm wondering how much it could cost.
The pavement needs redoing too, they are ugly. I also have in mind to rearrange the bedrooms.

Slithery

pieroabcd said:

I would replace the roof, of course. I won't want to have asbestos near me...

Why? The vast majority of properties have asbestos in them and unless you plan on grinding it into a powder and snorting the stuff it's perfectly safe.

jimbog

do you have a rightmove link you are willing to share?

canaldumidi

pieroabcd said:

I would replace the roof, of course......

Why 'of course'? Thousands of houses have asbestos in them.Leave it alone.

Of course if you want to throw money at the property that's your choice, but then what did you post here for.......?

pieroabcd

canaldumidi said:

Do you plan to remove/do any work to the garage roof? If not, leave the asbestos alone and it will leave you alone.

I'll lay money on there being a dpc. Maybe slate. Maybe hidden esp if the externalground level is raised by eg flower bed/rockery, patio, driveway.

Damp is nearly always caused by simple things: high external ground level; leaking gutters/downpipes; poor internal ventilation; damaged pointing; etc

Wait for the report then speak othe surveyor but so far seems like no big deal...

so the damp course can be added if it's missing? The house is a mid terrace. Should it be added on both sides?
Is it very expensive to add?
There's a driveway at the front and a conservatory at the back. beside it there's a tile pavement that leads to the rear garden.