Would you buy a house with damp?

[zippy539]

To cut a long story short we've sold our flat and are now frantically looking for a house before ds starts school in August.

We've looked at loads but our favourite one is a double basement - the lower bit of which has a couple of visible damp patches plus a very damp aroma eminating from a bathroom. DH loves the place but is reluctant because of the damp. Is he right or over reacting? The estate agents have said that if the survey shows a problem we'll be able to negotiate downwards to compensate but DH is still reluctant. Does anyone have experience of damp patches? (in housing )

Yeah, zippy. His mum is from Newhaven so she always lived in that area.

But they bought in 1982. Her mum sold her house there and gave her a bit of money - MIL is an only child.

It's shocking how much their house is worth now.

I'd live there if I could afford it. LOL!

Don't want to keep going on about it but \link{http://dampnessdiagnosis.com/DDCAboutDampness.htm\here's another link}
The only thing I can't find is someone suitable in Edinburgh!

Personally, given you have such a short timespan to think objectively in, I would walk away, especially if your DP is not into it. I know you love the kitchen but you can always recreate that somewhere else.

got a proper surveyor and 2 damp proofing companies to do quotes before we bought this damp house - negotiated the cost off the house and bought it fully intending to do all the damp work before we moved in.

In the end, the dates all got buggered up and the work was done once we were in which was a HUGE mistake. Generally, they will replaster the inside walls with special plaster (lots of layers) and they take the old plaster off with tools that look like pneumatic drills! I was cleaning plaster dust off everything for about 2 weeks afterwards!!

If you love the place, can negotiate the cost of the work off the price, can get the work done before you move in then I would go for it.

But I would pay for a full structural survey and get a good damp proofing bloke to look round.