Raising damp next door but not my side?

Marvel1

Hi all, mid-terrace house, next door has raising damp on their internal wall next sharing with me - our lving room walls.  There is nothing my side, my walls are cream so would see it.

Unsure what the cause is, I had my bathroom done 10 years ago, bathroom is downstairs, only have a shower - could a gap/leak from the corner of the shower tray cause this? I will reseal with grout just in case, just wondering any ideas?  

I'm clueless, someone is coming in today -  the neighbour's family member to check.

Update: We think this maybe my shower - I have posted in the insurance category for further advice: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6458735/trying-to-claim-on-insurance#latest

thearchitect

Rising damp will normally exhibit on both sides of a wall at the one time unless there are different finishes which might conceal it - for example lath and plaster, or renovating plaster.   It is, however, unusual to find it on an internal wall absent strange ground water levels because (for obvious reasons) there tends to be rather less moisture at the base.   

My advice is to have a think about what else it might be.

JohnJ76

does the area of damp on their side correspond to the shower? if not then its unlikely to be that.  are they sure it is rising damp (very over diagnosed by ''damp'' companies keen to sell dubious products) does it come and go? is their room heated? I presume so as its a living room. Is mould present? is there tide mark or is it in patches? What is their floor type - same as yours or have they changed floor construction at some point (timber to concrete etc)?  Its not impossible they could have condensation issues (although unlikely this time of year).  I presume they have checked their side to make sure they have no water pipes leaking (or heating). Showers can leak a fair amount of water but it would be a fairly quick win on your behalf to make sure it is correctly sealed, even if to stop damage to your property.

thearchitect

In all fairness condensation would normally appear on an outside wall before a party wall.

Marvel1

JohnJ76 said:

does the area of damp on their side correspond to the shower?

Not directly oppsoite, but would halfway across.

 if not then its unlikely to be that.  are they sure it is rising damp (very over diagnosed by ''damp'' companies keen to sell dubious products) does it come and go?

I think this will be the best action to be honest, damp survey only but not selling anything.

is their room heated? I presume so as its a living room. Is mould present?

Yes, heated, no mould present.

 is there tide mark or is it in patches?

I would say tide mark

What is their floor type - same as yours or have they changed floor construction at some point (timber to concrete etc)? 

Same as mine laminated flooring and no change.

 Its not impossible they could have condensation issues (although unlikely this time of year).  I presume they have checked their side to make sure they have no water pipes leaking (or heating). Showers can leak a fair amount of water but it would be a fairly quick win on your behalf to make sure it is correctly sealed, even if to stop damage to your property.

Yes, no pipes their side of the wall that side of the wall}

Showers can leak a fair amount of water but it would be a fairly quick win on your behalf to make sure it is correctly sealed, even if to stop damage to your property.

That's the plan, the partner did say need someone to come in and take out the whole shower and replace and a new bathroom! Insurance will do it (my head was they won't).

Answers in bold

JohnJ76

laminate floor over what? I did see a case years ago where a suspended timber floor had been replaced with concrete.  the builder had bodged the damp proofing and it only became apparent some months later as the junction of the wall/slab suddenly started exhibiting damp.  It only occured along the side he had missed it, as shown when they broke it out.  .  If the pipes feeding the bathroom your side and you think the leak is to do with the pipework it may be possible your insurance company can trace the leak (trace and access is common in a lot of policies)  although I would have thought leaking pipework would have shown on your side too and would manifest as a patch on their side rather than a uniform tide mark.  I'm not convinced you'd get a new bathroom out of your insurance company but miracles can happen!

Marvel1

Looking into an independent damp surveyor, they don't sell their own services.  They investigate and recommend, trying this a first step.

The issue with insurance is, if done down to reseal grout then they won't touch it anyway.

I'm baffled too why not my side,the water main pipe comes through that side from outside.