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So i accepted an offer on my house yesterday (woo hoo!).
Im going to see a flat on wednesday..
Single Scottish Home Report has come back with - "Damp readings were obtained to localised areas within the property. Readings were particularly evident to lower wall linings within the rear bedroom apartment with salt staining also observed to exposed brick work."
For background, the building is an old industrial building, built around 1860, converted into flats around 2005. I remember playing in it in the 80's, when it was derelict! It was open to to the elements for decades before it was converted.
Its been marked as a 2 - "Repairs or replacement requiring future attention, but estimates are still advised."
Is it something requiring further work or just the Surveyor covering themselves?
thanks in advance,
paul
Pictures?
Most places have a bit of damp but it can quite easily be something that affects your use and enjoyment of the place.
Does it feel cold n clammy to touch ? Any evidence the area has been redecorated recently to cover it up? Are you only let in to view after owner/agent has opened the windows before you go in to air the room? Wallpaper or plaster bubbled or feel hollow when tapped? Any mildew spores tucked away in a corner? Any of these telltales and it’s probably an issue.
Sounds pretty normal for a building from 1860. Worth looking for a cause like a dodgy gutter, missing roof tile etc, but there's likely to be a bit of damp here and there, especially if it's not been lived in recently
From the property details. I think the "salt" can be seen in the bedroom. It's a ground floor flat.
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Telling you the damp readings were 'evident' but not what they were is a bit meaningless. The wall will have been wet when it was derelict and salts could have migrated from the ground and still be coming out. It's only a potential problem if it's still taking in water. It won't have been built with a damp proof course, it might be worth finding out if anything was done in the conversion.
I don't know the legal position in Scotland; I know flats aren't leasehold as is usual in England but not what the rules are on the responsibilities of one flat owner to others or to the building, and vice versa. If one flat has damp ingress and it affects others, who is liable?
I believe there is a communal monthly charge/fund for any building work that might be required.
All owners are equally responsible for any repairs.
At that age it'll be solid walls with no damp proof course so the indication from the report text is rising damp, not uncommon I'm a building of that age and not really a problem so long as you keep it reasonably well heated and accept surface finishes will be affected by the moisture levels. It only becomes more of a problem if there's timber in or close to the walls such as a suspended floor which could be left exposed to wet rot. Id want to see under the floor covering before committing to a purchase. Further investigation definitely is necesary.