Is it possible to have damp yet no visible signs of damp?

[Willowcat77]

I'm selling my house - a Victorian mid terrace. My buyers did an extensive survey and the report said they detected high levels of moisture in the walls downstairs and that we needed a new damp proof course and plastering which would cost over 5K!!!

I was shocked because there have never been any signs damp in all the years I have lived here. The walls are painted and the plaster looks absolutely fine and there is no damp smell etc.

How is it possible that my house apparently needs over £5,000 spending on damp I can't even see? Has anyone else had experience of invisible damp? Maybe I should get a second opinion? Does it really have to be this expensive?

Well, it could be....

www.askjeff.co.uk/rising-damp/

But trying to convince your buyers of this is another matter.

if you invite a person who sells damp-proofing into your home, he will tell you that you need to buy damp-proofing.

I can't think why.

Tell them it is already allowed for in the asking price.

Very likely the house was built with a slate dpc. Slate lasts about twenty million years. Very often people block the ventilation airbricks, for example by putting paving or flowerbeds or concrete floors against the walls. Victorian pipes and drains usually leak so the ground under the house may be wet. Special plaster and chemical injections do not cure leaks or unblock airbricks.

Nope. I'd be standing firm. Old buildings need to breathe so do that work would likely cause more harm.

Get yourself an independent survey by a specialist that deals with old houses and ones that don't have any products to sell.