Dealing with damp in your house

Damp is a very serious problem as it can lead to mould, which can in itself cause or exacerbate health problems, which can be particularly dangerous in vulnerable householders, such as the elderly, young children and babies, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

If there is damp in a rental property, the landlord is legally obliged to get it fixed as it is considered a hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and they could be fined if the problem remains unresolved.

Read how damp can devalue your property

Types of damp and their signs

There are two types of damp:

Penetrating damp

Causes of penetrating damp

This is caused by water leaking into the property, and can be a result of:

• faulty construction, eg inadequate waterproofing
• loose slates and tiles
• damaged brickwork, render or gaps around a window frame
• blocked or leaking gutters/drainpipes
• vegetation growing too close to the property
• incorrectly installed cavity wall insulation
• buildings with solid walls (as opposite to cavity walls) are more prone to damp

All of these can result in water gradually seeping into the building and making the property damp.

Signs of penetrating damp

• Damp appears in patches on the walls, ceiling or around a window:
• Damp patches on external walls
• Algae or white residue (efflorescence) on external walls

Our guide to maintaining your property can help prevent some of the causes of penetrating damp.

Rising damp

Causes of rising damp

This is caused by a faulty, or non-existent, damp proof course. The water from the ground rises up into the building and can be seen on the lower portion – usually about a metre – of the inside walls.

Signs of rising damp

• Damp affects the bottom part of the walls
• Appears on the ground floor only
• Damp patches on plaster that come and go with the weather – these could be caused by hygroscopic salts from rising damp.

Read our checklist on identifying and solving rising damp:

Identifying and solving rising damp

Condensation and mould

These problems can present themselves in a similar way to damp but have different causes. They appear as a result of moisture in the air, eg from poor ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms. To solve the issue, contact a specialist company such as Envirovent.

Read why mould is the biggest turn-off for homebuyers.

Always get an expert to diagnose and solve damp

Establishing the cause and type of damp is a job for an expert, not your usual builder as, if they diagnose the issue incorrectly, they could prolong the issue or even make it worse.

• Contact an expert who is qualified by:
  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
  • The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA)
  • The Property Care Association
• Or a company which employs qualified surveyors such as Rentokil Property Care or Peter Cox.
• Ask for a report of the whole property, not just the affected area
• Treated walls should be replastered with a salt retardant plaster, to prevent the problem from recurring
• Allow walls to dry out for six weeks before decorating, and avoid vinyl paints for up to a year
• Retain any paperwork and guarantees, as you will need these if you ever sell the property.

Read our quick guide to property problems

You can read more about the problems of damp in our report for the TDS Charitable Foundation, How do we stamp out damp, condensation and mould in the private rented sector?

If you are concerned about damp, condensation or mould in your property, or one your rent, do get in touch and we will do our best to help.