Damp.., really..? 2 inches of damp..? Come on!?

[ConfusedaLot]

Hi, Just selling my house and my purchasers have just had their survey done. The surveyor mentioned that I had damp on an internal wall, just behind my TV. There is no visible damp, he picked this up with his meter. However, my built in freezer is directly behind the wall in question - he said has a 'small' registry on his meter for damp. I'm not convinced, but now know this will go on the survey. Could it be my freezer that made his meter give off a signal?? The house has had a damp proof course, but this predates me. He also got a reading near my radiator in the same room, but 2 inches either side of the spot, he couldn't get a reading at all...! Could this be because I had done three days worth of laundry and it was all either on the radiator, or on the clothes horse nearby? I'm just not convinced. It's the most lived in room in the house and is as dry as a bone. How can it measure damp in a 2 inch square area? He even said, 'it's pot luck' - How can it register damp on an internal wall with a freezer built in behind it? I don't mind people telling me I'm daft, but I'd be dafter forking out thousands of pounds unnecessarily - wouldn't I? AND I might have to drop the selling price if the purchasers think it's riddled with damp! HELP.

[rabbitygirl]

I have just bought 2 houses one of which had a proper survey on it as its a Victorian terrace. It came back at 40+ pages and has got virtually all wrong except dry rot. All surveyors carry these meters but have researched all the survey subjects on the web and meters are held in little regard by many when it comes to accuracy or reliability. Have a trawl around under damp and see what you find. I have a large file of info and this might be useful;

'dry the affected area with fan heater, tape kitchen foil tight over it. If foil wet after 24 hrs u have condensation. If foil dry but wall beneath is damp u have rising or penetrating damp'
I think you have condensation due to lack of air circulation /ventilation but unsure how you fight back the surveyor. They exagerate problems a bit to cover themselves. You probably dont want to hear this but my survey enabled me to get thousands off the price of the house so perhaps someone could help arm u to save you shaving anything of your sale price. But definitely fight - its so small and most houses have got little damp spots for whatever reason.

[gina32]

when i sold my house last year the survey came back as damp in the living room where we had a dampproof course!, the buyers paid for a damp proof engineer to carry out tests on it and it came back showing no damp at all, so maybe a second opinion may be owrth a try

[ConfusedaLot]

Yeah, you're both right, but it's so unfair. I've lived here for 11 years and the house is well looked after. I've spent about �60,000 on this house over the years. I've already reduced the price below market value and can't reduce any further. All my profit is being ploughed into the next house.

I can fix the problem, if there is one, as I have a family member who does this sort of work, but he'll be giving me a 'family rate' and wont be able to guarantee the work 'officially' as he wont be able to do it under his work's authority! I can provide evididence that any work has been done (and it will be to a high standard), but I'm not throwing ���'s at some stranger just to get a piece of paper proving the work has been done by some rip off damp experts, when all along my family member can fix it, but without paperwork!

It's a bit sad really, as I'm having to also sell my car to be able to afford the next house, but just know the purchasers are going to pounce like tarantulas when they get a sniff of damp, no matter how little, insignificant or unproven. I seem to be losing out both ways in this chain.

Thanks for all you help though!

[gina32]

maybe if things are so bad that you are having to sell your car you ought to rethink and maybe get a property that you are able to afford more comfortably

[dolly pond]

most timber and damp companies do a free survey, if u r in the west mids, rudders and payne or marston timber and damp are good.

[ajwt2]

I wrote this article a few years a go. Basically those damp meters are a complete con!

It doesn't sound like you have a damp problem at all and should look at getting a different surveyor

http://www.whatprice.co.uk/household/rising-da mp.html

[ConfusedaLot]

Hi Gina! I can buy the property comfortably! It's just I'm using all of my equity as the deposit and therefore require a contingency plan. I have a very expensive convertible sports car and can easily manage to run a far cheaper car, as cars depriciate in value whereas a house is a much more sensible way of spending my pennies! But thanks for your comments though, I know you meant well.

[ConfusedaLot]

Hi Gina! I can buy the property comfortably! It's just I'm using all of my equity as the deposit and therefore require a contingency plan. I have a very expensive convertible sports car and can easily manage to run a far cheaper car, as cars depriciate in value whereas a house is a much more sensible place to put my money! But thanks for your comments though, I know you meant well. It's just I didn't want to sell the car until I got some little babies!!! It'll brake my heart to be sensible!!