MOVED IN AND DAMP PROBLEMS

nationwide_3

Moved in to old terraced house in July and after a month found a funny smell coming from one of the kitchen base units and right a the back of the base unit was an air freshner!! The back wall had rising damp and had to get a builder in to hack the wood pannelling and plaster off a metre high. The point I am trying to make is the people selling the house must have known there was a problem and hid the fact by putting an air freshner in the base unit. I had a full structural survey which did say wood pannelling in the kitchen may look nice but it could hide damp. The kitchen base units have been thrown out because they are full of damp and just fell apart when removed to have a look at the back wall. The damp specialists came in and injected the wall and the builder had plastered the wall. I have spent £450.00 for the priviledge of sorting out a problem I should not have to, the kitchen is a bomb site and I need new kitchen units. To really make my day I have been told the units on the other side are all hand made and to get new doors to match any new kitchen units on the other side will cost a fortune.

I need help and advice please. ???

cattie

What advice are you looking for?

It doesn't necessarily stand that the previous owners knew about the damp just because there was an air freshener block in the kitchen cabinet. Very few damp problems come to light untill the house is being sold & the potential buyer has a survey carried out prior to purchase.

If you paid out for a full structural survey, then it should have been down to your surveyor to have identified a possible damp problem. It's one of the things you pay all that money out for. Maybe you should consider a complaint to the surveyor in question.

It is usual when having a survey to be advised in the report to get specialist advice for any possible problems re damp, roof, timbers, electrics etc. before continuing with the purchase of the property in question.

I've only ever had the Home Buyers surveys carried out, which cost around £400, never a full structural survey, & each of these have given me the advice regarding getting a specialist in to check things over first.

Incidentally £450 isn't a lot to pay out for damp treatment work, so don't feel too aggrieved. If it's been done professionally then you should have the proper 30 year guarantee.

dougk_2

Unfortunately I don't think there is anything to be done now.

I have been very careful about picking up on information in our homebuyers report and any mention of damp or maintenance I have got the estate agent / vendors to bring in a specialist to report on it and have any defects fixed before purchase.

So i guess in your case it will be cheaper to replace all the kitchen units?

Sorry I can't offer any solution