What could be causing this damp?

[ISeeTheLight]

We are looking at a property. It needs complete refurbishment inside which we are okay about. However it has damp on one side of the house, outside. What could be the cause of this?

The house is surrounded by trees and there are a lot of leaves in the gutter (there's a tree on this side where the damp is, so more leaves there). Could it just be from the guttering overflowing or is it likely to be eg rising damp from the ground?

No other damp issues on outside walls.

The damp is directly behind the downspout. So I would first suspect some sort of leak in guttering at the top of the down spout. This would cause water to run down the wall all behind the downspout...which is what the damp looks like to me. Also the down spout just disappears into the ground....where does the water go? It should go to a drain. You might have to dig around the bottom of the down spout to make sure it is going to an actual drain and that drain has not become clogged or collapsed. At the top of the downspout by the rook guttering there should also be a leaf trap/screen so leaves don’t go into the downspout and clog it. Check that too.

Yup it will be the downpipe/guttering blocked or cracked. Very easy fix

Did you see a damp proofing strip running around the house ?
Usually two brick courses above the ground.

Also, and it might just be the style, but to me , lots of bricks look to have chunks missing their outside face.

I get the leaking gutter idea, but why would the green dampness spread so far out on both sides of the corner , unless it was coming from the ground?

I get the leaking gutter idea, but why would the green dampness spread so far out on both sides of the corner , unless it was coming from the ground?

As water trickles downwards, it will spread out evenly on the sides. You van test this by pouring water from a height..it doesn’t go straight down, but starts to widen out like a triangle with the point at the source.

@tanstaafl

Did you see a damp proofing strip running around the house ? Usually two brick courses above the ground.

Also, and it might just be the style, but to me , lots of bricks look to have chunks missing their outside face.

I get the leaking gutter idea, but why would the green dampness spread so far out on both sides of the corner , unless it was coming from the ground?

and, after it has run or gushed down, it is landing on the ground. Splashing up and perhaps spreading out into a big puddle or wet mud which will soak into the bricks at ground level and rise up one or two courses.

It's possible that the drain or pipe is blocked at the bottom and is spilling out from the joints above (downpipe points are deliberately not sealed to enable you to see when this happens)

there are a lot of fallen leaves around.

Thank you so much all. That does put my mind at rest somewhat. We are planning to view with a builder to get an idea on costs so I'll get him to have a look at it as well.

Yes there are a LOT of leaves. The property was rented out, thrashed by the tenants (who recently were evicted) and basically not well looked after. That said we believe the bones are good and it is structurally okay. We would also get a full structural survey. We are planning on replacing the guttering and fascia.