Smell of damp - how is this even possible?

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I have been renovating an old house for six months and have done everything - had cavity wall slime sucked out, all plaster off to the brick, damp proof course put in, replastered throughout, redecorated - every bloody thing I can think of. It's been the hottest, driest summer I remember. It still smells of damp in one room and the dehumidifier says it's 63% humidity. I can't understand it.

Why? And what can I do about it?

Thanks

Is it still drying out if you've had it replastered etc etc? Do you actually see any damp patches/peeling paint/mould? Is there any pipework running through room under floors that could be leaking? Are you opening and ventilating? Does it have a chimney breast (these need ventilation and can hold a lot of extra water). For houses it should be around 50-55% (just googled this) but how accurate is the dehumidifier's readings?? I am no expert at damp but have done up a good few houses.

Just don't get me started...

You have my complete sympathy and equivalent bafflement regarding the smell in our house.

More helpfully, you don't have a leaking drain from a washingmachine or something, do you?

Don't think there are any leaks, although did have a temporary leak a couple of weeks ago upstairs - maybe it's just that drying out. It's absolutely infuriating, though.

Yes I fully sympathise! I guess if it doesn't improve you may have to get someone in to have a look but I am always a bit wary of damp firms. Think they find problems that don't really exist sometimes.

Could be leaking pipes under the house

Bad ventilation? Blocked air bricks?

It really isn't :( I had extra air bricks put in to improve the ventilation. The leak a couple of weeks ago must be the culprit (I hope, I hope). It's been fixed and all obvious wet bits are dried out but maybe the wood got wet and is now a bit stinky as I stopped with the super-ventilation a bit too soon. Grasping at straws and placing all faith in the trusty dehumidifier.

Is it at the bottom of a hill, or something like that?

Nope. Thought I was making progress with the dehumidifier yesterday but came down this morning to 70% humidity again. Argh!

You need to borrow a damp meter and test the walls and floor, as a start.