Damp

[B1rdinthebush]

Our survey has brought up an issue of rising damp on the external wall of the lounge.

The vendor has advised that they will be instructing a company to treat this for which we'd ask for a long term insurance backed transferable guarantee to be provided.

My question is though, are we silly to let the vendors sort this and would it be better to have our own survey done and ask for the cost of the work to be deducted from the sale price?

I've got one year old twins and am not hugely enthusiastic of be prospect of having the work done ourselves!

Is it an urgent problem? We have some rising damp and our buyers had a survey, the surveyor said it's not an urgent problem just for them to bear in mind if they decorate. It is quite a messy job so it might be worth just letting your vendor do the work, but on the other hand it will delay the sale while they get it done. If you are planning any other plastering work the cost could be reduced if you lump this work in with it? Our buyers quote was a few thousand pounds and as the area was clearly visible on viewings and we had already provided a quote, we have not agreed to cover the cost or accept a reduced offer - your vendor may say the same?

the vendor will, of course, get the cheapest possible "fix"

It will probably not work.

If it is at skirting level, it is probably due to a dripping gutter or paving above dpc, or maybe a waterleak.

If it is above skirting level it is probably condensation.

None of these will be fixed by a "damp proofing" company.

Above skirting can also be a problem flashings around the chimney and water penetrating or a tiny hole in an outside wall (have just spent six months trying to find what was causing mine).