Rising damp in Edwardian house

[DavetheCat2001]

We are in the process of buying an Edwardian property, and have had our structural survey results back.

It mentions that rising damp was detected on the ground floor, I asked the surveyor if this was something to worry about, his response was as follows:
To put this in perspective i see this in 99% of period properties. I saw no other signs. For me good ventilation is the key.

Now obviously he is the expert etc, but would you be satisfied with that, or would you get a specialist in to also have a look?

The house has been empty for over a year and so not ventilated. It needs a lot of work, but the survey seems to suggest it's pretty solid with no structural movement since being underpinned in 1998.

Any thoughts?

Sometimes over the years the ground around the house has built up and bridged the original damp proof course. It could be paving laid against the house, or soil from a flower bed. Often just digging down solves the problem.
Or if the floor is suspended wood the air bricks have been filled in and need clearing or replacing.
We’ve had 3 Victorian/ Edwardian houses, they’re usually solid, but can have the problems that age brings. A really good house book is the Haynes ( as in car manuals) The Victorian and Edwardian House Manual. A great resource.

Thanks @Beebumble2

I have heard that manual recommended before so will get a copy.

actual "rising damp" is rare.

Are the wet patches on every wall in the house, or, for example, in and close to the kitchen? Or close to a downpipe or drain?

Can you see an original damp course? (most likely a thick mortar bed with a slate layer, two bricks up from where ground level was when the house was built)?

is there a cellar?

Is there a water meter?

Thanks @PigletJohn - No there aren't wet patches on every wall, and in fact apart from a couple of patches of damp either side of one of the downstairs radiators, we didn't notice any other damp patches or indeed smell damp. I think the surveyor used a meter to read the damp.

No cellar and no water meter.

Not sure about a damp proof course..will find out.

The surveyor seems fairly relaxed about it, so wasn't sure if we should undertake further investigation.

"couple of patches of damp either side of one of the downstairs radiators,"

you mean, where there are pipes containing water?

hmmmmm.