C-neal
Member
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Eastbourne
Hi,
I purchased an Edwardian link-detached house in December 2021 with damp issues and in a poor state of repair. I had a damp and timber survey during the house buying process, which only suggested replacing the plaster, chemical damp course etc. which did not advise the root cause of the damp.
I have dug a trench around the front and side of the house, which has helped but not solved the issue. However, I have since discovered some additional reasons why the house has such damp problems.
1. My neighbour's patio, which is higher than my ground level, drains into my side passage and garden.
2. The road drain which is located in front of my neighbour's property is problematic and regularly blocks during torrential rain causing our drains to back up, flooding the road and houses on my side of the street because the fronts of the houses are higher than the rear (a known problem having called out the water company when the house flooded, which was not picked up on my searches during the house purchase process). The water company has checked my drains for cracks using a camera and they are fine.
3. My neighbour has inadequate rain water disposal. Their main roof has a down pipe into a water butt (!), located in their side passage, which has no overflow pipe and I am sure is the reason why I have such bad damp in my side passage.
4. All the neighbouring properties, mine included, have block paved driveways and the ground level is too high (hence which I have dug the trench).
5. The neighbouring properties were built at different times, so the ground level differs. One neighbouring house was built in 1903, mine in 1907 and the other neighbour 1959.
What I need advice on is what type of company I need to contact for an independent survey/report so I can get a better idea of what needs to be done to improve the damp issues, before I decide what I can afford to do and instruct a builder/drainage company. Clearly this is a complex problem. As my damp issue is possibly exacerbated by my neighbour (their patio draining into my side passage and garden, and inadequate water butt), I need to be able to give them a copy of the report so they can address some of the issues which are affecting my property. Unfortunately for me, the neighbour is not neighbourly or approachable and I have a feeling they will refuse to cooperate. However, if they are given a copy of the report, it will be a good starting point.
Much appreciated
C-neal
I purchased an Edwardian link-detached house in December 2021 with damp issues and in a poor state of repair. I had a damp and timber survey during the house buying process, which only suggested replacing the plaster, chemical damp course etc. which did not advise the root cause of the damp.
I have dug a trench around the front and side of the house, which has helped but not solved the issue. However, I have since discovered some additional reasons why the house has such damp problems.
1. My neighbour's patio, which is higher than my ground level, drains into my side passage and garden.
2. The road drain which is located in front of my neighbour's property is problematic and regularly blocks during torrential rain causing our drains to back up, flooding the road and houses on my side of the street because the fronts of the houses are higher than the rear (a known problem having called out the water company when the house flooded, which was not picked up on my searches during the house purchase process). The water company has checked my drains for cracks using a camera and they are fine.
3. My neighbour has inadequate rain water disposal. Their main roof has a down pipe into a water butt (!), located in their side passage, which has no overflow pipe and I am sure is the reason why I have such bad damp in my side passage.
4. All the neighbouring properties, mine included, have block paved driveways and the ground level is too high (hence which I have dug the trench).
5. The neighbouring properties were built at different times, so the ground level differs. One neighbouring house was built in 1903, mine in 1907 and the other neighbour 1959.
What I need advice on is what type of company I need to contact for an independent survey/report so I can get a better idea of what needs to be done to improve the damp issues, before I decide what I can afford to do and instruct a builder/drainage company. Clearly this is a complex problem. As my damp issue is possibly exacerbated by my neighbour (their patio draining into my side passage and garden, and inadequate water butt), I need to be able to give them a copy of the report so they can address some of the issues which are affecting my property. Unfortunately for me, the neighbour is not neighbourly or approachable and I have a feeling they will refuse to cooperate. However, if they are given a copy of the report, it will be a good starting point.
Much appreciated
C-neal