What does this comment actually mean?

[batmancave]

We are thinking of swapping houses with a couple who live in our town.

Very early stages. A few pictures been exchanged but no viewings yet.

I recently asked them if there was any damage to their property and they replied ' no damage as such' .

I took that as there is damage but they don't want to admit it.

Dp reckons there is no damage at all.

Obviously we will view the house soon and will hopefully clarify this then.

What would you take from the comment? They used that reply more than once when asked about damage.

I would take of that no 'vandalism' has been done by them but there are 'imperfections'.

All the best for your move.

I'd assume they meant some wear and tear, but nothing that had happened in a single incident.

Wear and tear probably. Just no damage. I’m not sure that’s any clearer! But you’ll find out when you go to view anyway.

That its a shit tip?

I don't know but what do you mean by swapping houses? Rented and same landlord? And aren't you going to view it first?

I'd take it to mean general wear and tear.

I’d assume they meant no broken windows or leaks from the roof, but there’s stuff like scuffs on the walls and marked carpets.

I’d also assume some wear and tear, but no specific damage.

Asking about damage is a weird way of asking in the first place - I wouldn't be sure how to answer it.

By damage I would think eg car crashing into front of house, flooding or tree falling on roof, which for most properties would be a no.

To my mind it wouldn't cover eg roof needing replacing because it was really old, dry rot, old electrics etc.

I would take it that there is some wear and tear

Id take it too mean that theres no huge damage issues, but there is some normal wear and tear you'd find in most lived in houses

Sounds like they mean wear and tear.

They know they have damp would be my guess

It sounds to me as though there's an issue they don't want to tell you about and they're hiding behind a strict definition of "damage." If it was just ordinary wear and tear, they'd have said just that.

I would interpret that as "minor" damage- wear and tear, stuff like that. But you need to specifically ask them what that means as we can guess all day long but we might be wrong

I agree - general wear and tear but no ripped off/kicked in doors or large holes in the walls.

Like others I'd think it meant some wear and tear.