Help! Is this rising damp dangerous?

[sellotape12]

We just moved into a Victorian mid terrace. We decided to lift the cheapo laminate in the kitchen yesterday and discovered the plywood underneath was covered with fluffy orange and cream mould.

Under that, we found more of the same, and under that, we found a patch of screed. It looks as though some daft person thought plonking a screed over the floor joists would prevent the damp. But it's all mouldy, as is the skirting board. You can also see yellowish water stains up the party wall.

We were always planning on completely renovating this space but all builders are booked up until Jan.

1: should I be worried about our health? I have mild asthma. Can it wait until Jan when we fix it properly?

2: Do you think this is rising damp from groundwater?

3: Do I get my neighbour involved, as the water stains are on the party wall so likely he has a problem too (?)

4: Do I assume that the floor joists under neath are probably rotten? And if so, how much is it to replace them and install a new damp proof course?

Sorry for all the questions. I've barely slept for worrying. Our budget for new kitchen and floor was limited so unsure of how much more £ I should budget for correcting a new DPC and possible floor joists.

Thank you ladies 💕

[JoJoSM2]

I'd say to get a damp specialist in (not a general builder) to assess the situation, work out the source of the damp and tell you what needs to be done. I wouldn't worry too much as presumably you have some money to put towards the renovation. The damp can be sorted but it will just need money spent on it. ( I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with different kinds of mould).

[ExcuseMyEyebrows]

This is an interesting website about old houses and their problems www.heritage-house.org/managing-damp-in-old-buildings.html

[bilbodog]

Check your outside ground levels are not higher than the floor inside - we had problems like this in our current victorian cottage - we had all the patio and concrete outside dug up and replaced with gravel to allow the water to drain down rather than come under the house. We had tgecrotten ends of joists removed and treated and small internal walls built ti support them under the wooden floors. All signs and damp smells now gone.

[johnd2]

Hard to tell from the photos, does it smell mushroomy? Could be mould or rot, but the main thing is get the floor boards up and get it drying out, talk to the neighbours if you can, and find the source of the water to stop it.
It could be as simple as a leaking pipe soaking it, or it could be a high water table but you need to look to see underneath.