Damp utility room - cost & how much to take off from offer...

[Greenfairydust]

I had a second viewing on this house today:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127654289#/?channel=RES_BUY

(the damp show on pic 13)

The house itself is in good condition but an additional utility room was built poorly and now has a lot of damp. The room is where the boiler is kept. I am thinking that this will either needs a lot of work to fix or would need completely knocking down.

What do people think? that is something I should not even consider taking on as it could be pricey and disruptive if it needs to be knocked down and the boiler moved

or that I should factor a certain amount off in my offer?

I have actually offered on another house but as the owners are taking time to get back to me I am considering my plan B...

It looks like the roof is leaking. You can see the water drips have worn the wood stain off. If that the whole reason for the damp it shouldn’t be much but you need to determine the actual cause to know for sure.

You get a surveyor, find out what is causing the damp and then decide. It looks like a crappy roof more than anything. No one here can tell you if it needs knocking down or not.

It is a single skin lean-to, so no insulation, and probably unheated and limited ventilation, I suspect the 'leak' marks are from condensation forming on the polycarbonate ceiling/roof and dripping down, plus general high condensation. Ventilation would make a big difference.

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice.

''@Clymene · Today 13:11
You get a surveyor, find out what is causing the damp and then decide. It looks like a crappy roof more than anything. No one here can tell you if it needs knocking down or not.''

Well yes of course I would get a full structural survey done...

But at this stage I am asking if anyone had similar issues to get an idea of the costs that could be involved before I would even consider making an offer.

Given that it's so obvious in the photos, do you not think the estate agents took that into consideration when pricing it?

As per @Yarnosaura, it’s just a lean to, not an extension. You can only ventilate. I would not use that as a reason to reduce your offer. It’s like saying the shed is damp.

The house looks decent, I wouldn’t even bother with a survey myself. The only thing that caught my eye is where the beam is in the living room, there is a pier at one end, but not the other.
Again probably not an issue, maybe it’s never been knocked through and that’s original.

''@PleaseJustText · Today 13:26
Given that it's so obvious in the photos, do you not think the estate agents took that into consideration when pricing it?''

The house was tenanted and I think the landlord did not want to do any work that would mean disruption, anyway I have emailed the agents to ask whether the landlord has done any investigations as to the cause of this damp problem.

''C4tastrophe · Today 13:35
As per @Yarnosaura, it’s just a lean to, not an extension. You can only ventilate. I would not use that as a reason to reduce your offer. It’s like saying the shed is damp.''

The boiler is there though so I would not want any damp/water getting into the electrics.

Can you find out where the boiler was before the lean to was put on? I'm wondering if it would be better/cheaper to just put the boiler back where it was? You could still use the extension for storage etc.

I don't think it's the same as a shed, at all, given it's attached to the house.

Depending on the market locally, I would probably make a lower offer- it doesn't sound like you're in love with the house?

That room/wall will always be damp as the brickwork is single skin. As long as the roof is not leaking and is secured correctly there is no issue.

Thank you for the feedback and maybe it is not as bad as I thought!

I like the idea of moving the boiler back in to a different location inside the house, the kitchen would make sense, and then trying to improve the room a bit but accepting it will always have some damp.

I like the house very much but it is my second choice, I did not offer on it first because it had tenants in. They are now moving out.

I have not had any reply on the one I have offered on yesterday with another agent so being pragmatic I am starting to look at alternatives.