Selling A House With Damp
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Looking at what to do when selling a house with damp, the causes and how to identify it.
Selling a property can be challenging enough without the added stress of discovering you have a damp and mould problem and now have a ‘problem property’ on your hands.
Once you have discovered it, you have the unpleasant task of having to treat it, or putting it on the market for a new buyer to deal with.
Selling a house with damp and mould is no easy feat, as the damage that can be caused by it can range from minor to major depending on the severity of the situation.
In this article, we will be looking at selling a house with damp and mould, how to identify it, what causes it and what your options are.
What is damp?
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Damp is a common issue that occurs in homes across the UK, affecting properties of all ages, though more common in older properties. Dampness is the unwanted moisture in the structure of the home, and it originates from both internal and external sources. Damp can wreak havoc on your home, causing:
Peeling wallpaper or paint
Unsightly stains on walls and ceilings
Rotting of wood and other materials
Growth of mould
Beyond aesthetic damage, dampness also poses health risks due to allergens, irritants, mould spores, and toxins it can foster. Dampness is a widespread problem in homes, frequently identified in house surveys. Studies indicate that half of the UK’s housing stock will suffer from dampness at least once.
The different types of damp
To understand the top causes of damp, we must first look at the different types of damp. There are generally three types of damp, penetrating damp, rising damp and condensation.
Rising Damp
Rising damp occurs in a property when groundwater moves up through the walls, starting at the bottom and gradually rising into the frame of the property.
The majority of buildings are fitted with a barrier made up of non-absorbent, water-resistant materials such as plastic or bitumen.
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This is called a damp proof course. Over time, however, this damp proof course can become ineffective and this is when groundwater can start to travel up the walls.
A lot of older buildings do not have a damp proof course fitted which is why this kind of damp can be found in older properties.
Penetrating Damp
Penetrating damp, also known as water ingress or lateral damp, is one of the most common forms of damp. It is caused by water infiltration through an external wall and into a property.
If you spot penetrating damp in your property, it can be from a number of causes.
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The three most common ways you can end up with a penetrating damp problem in your property is from:
Building Defects – Building defects such as leaking/blocked pipes, dilapidated or poorly installed windows, missing roof tiles, overflowing gutters etc can all allow moisture into your property.
Porous Walls – As bricks get older, they lose the ability to keep out rainfall and cracks in the external render allows water ingress.
Spalled Bricks And Degraded Mortar – Damaged bricks and degraded mortar allow water to get into your home and for penetrating damp to spread.
Condensation
Condensation is caused by moisture in the air settling on walls, especially in rooms where there isn’t a lot of ventilation.
Rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens where there is a lot of moisture in the air but not a lot of room for it to go, suffer the most from this type of damp.
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Moisture and condensation originate from unavoidable everyday activities such as:
Cooking
Showering
Boiling a kettle
Washing and drying clothes
Paraffin and gas heaters
Even breathing adds moisture to the air
How to identify dampness
It can be easy to panic if you find damp on your property, but the first thing you need to do is identify the type of damp you have got. Thankfully, all three types of damp have different looks that make them fairly easy to identify.
| Type Of Damp | Signs To Look For |
|---|---|
| Rising Damp | - Damp patches on walls, wet or cold to the touch. - Peeling plaster or wallpaper. - Moss growth on walls. - Tide marks or salt deposits on walls. |
| Penetrating Damp | - Staining on external walls. - Damp patches on internal walls or ceilings. - Wet or crumbly plaster. - Black mould or spores in isolated areas. - Drips or puddles. |
| Condensation | - Water droplets on windows and walls. - Black mould on walls or glass. - Musty smell. - Increased humidity levels. |
How does dampness impact your health?
Dampness in homes can have a significant negative impact on health, especially for vulnerable individuals. Exposure to damp and mould has been linked to a variety of health issues, including:
Asthma
The Environmental Protection Agency found that 21% of asthma cases can be accredited to issues from mould and dampness in a home.
Allergies
Mould spores are a common allergen, and exposure can lead to allergic reactions like sneezing, running nose and itchy eyes.
Respiratory infections
Damp can create an environment where bacteria and viruses thrive, increasing the risk of respiratory infections.
Weakened immune systems
Prolonged exposure to dampness and mould can suppress the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to illness.
It can also affect people with weak immune systems, such as the elderly, infants and children who are especially vulnerable to side effects from damp and mould.
Is it illegal to sell a house with damp?
It is not illegal to sell a house with dampness, in fact this is a standard industry practice. However, sellers and vendors are legally obligated to disclose any known damp issues to potential buyers.
Failing to disclose dampness or actively concealing it, can have serious legal ramifications. Buyers may be able to take legal action if they feel they were misled about the condition of the property.
While selling a house with damp is not prohibited, it's important to be transparent and honest about the issue to avoid any legal complications or costs.
Do you have to disclose damp when selling house?
Yes, you are legally required to disclose any known damp issues when selling a house in the UK. This includes providing accurate information about the type of dampness, its location and any previous treatments or repairs.
How much does damp devalue a house?
Dampness can significantly devalue a house, with the extent of the devaluation depending on several factors: the type of damp, its severity and how widespread the issue is.
Minor cases of condensation might lead to a 5% to 10% decrease in value, particularly if they are easily remedied. However, more extensive condensation or rising damp can result in a 10% to 20% drop, as these often require more substantial investment to rectify.
In severe cases where damp has caused structural damage, the property’s value can plummet by 30% to 50%, making it difficult to sell and potentially requiring extensive renovations.
On average dampness is estimated to depreciate a property’s market value by around 10%. This figure can be even higher if the damp has been left untreated and has caused significant damage. In extreme cases, the value can be reduced by up to 53%, especially if the dampness has impacted the structural integrity of the building.
When considering selling a house with dampness, it’s important to weigh the cost of repairs against the potential devaluation. In some instances, it might be more financially viable to address the dampness before selling, while in others, it may be more beneficial to sell the property as-is, with the buyer factoring in the cost of repairs.
Even after treatment, a property that has previously suffered from dampness may still experience a slight devaluation of around 3%. This is due to the stigma associated with dampness and the potential for future problems.
How to treat damp
Whilst at surface value, damp and mould may seem like a fairly trivial problem, if left untreated it can spread and cause structural damage to your home. It can appear to be an easy fix, but unfortunately, damp and mould will spread faster than you can get rid of it and in rooms with poor ventilation and a high content of moisture such as attics and bathrooms, the spread can be sped up and quickly grow out of control.
The best course of action is to have your suspected damp issue inspected by a professional contractor.
There are many different damp treatment options available, and the type you get depends on the type of damp you have, the severity of the damp and its location within the house.
As a rule of thumb, treatment can involve the installation of a chemical that is injected into holes in the masonry to repel water, or instead, a new damp membrane can be fitted into the home to act as a barrier against the moisture.
There are however downsides with this option, if you decide to treat your property repairs can be expensive and time-consuming.
How much does damp treatment cost?
If you decide to have your home damp proofed as a pre-emptive measure, you need to be aware of the problems it can bring. To have a three-bedroom house damp proofed it can cost between £3,000 to £4,000, the cost varies depending on the extent of the damp problem and the size of the infected room.
The drying time of the damp proofing can also be lengthy, with the average drying time taking up to a month per inch of wall thickness.
Even after the house is treated, due to the history of the property, potential buyers may still want a further discount.
Can you sell a house with untreated damp?
If you don’t have the time or the money to treat a mould and damp problem, then don’t panic. You will still be able to sell your property, but you will need to understand that once potential buyers find out about your mould and damp issues, no matter how minor or major, a lot of them will be turned off by this.
Potential buyers may walk away immediately or offer you a much lower offer for your property as they will have to spend additional money treating the mould and damp once they have already purchased the property.
If you still wish to continue selling a house with damp and mould problems, then you can do this in one of three ways. You can either go through an estate agent, through an auction or through a genuine cash buyer.
Estate Agent
When it comes to selling any type of property, the first way that most people think of is selling through an estate agent. However, when it comes to selling what can be referred to as a ‘problem property’, it can present its own set of challenges and selling a house with damp is no different.
If you are selling a ‘problem property’ the best kind of estate agent to go through would be a specialist estate agent. A specialist estate agent has experience with selling homes that are classed as ‘problems’, such as properties that suffer from dry rot, Japanese knotweed or damp and mould.
A huge positive to going down this route is that an estate agent will do all of the hard work for you, such as creating a listing for the property and advertising it for you.
However, with selling a house with damp through an estate agent, you will also need to book house viewings at your home for potential buyers. This can be a lengthy and inconvenient procedure that means taking time off work, making sure any other issues within the house are fixed and at the end of it all you still may not have a buyer and you will have to repeat the process all over again.
Another downside that comes with selling your home through an estate agent is that it can be months before you find a seller on the open market. Finding a buyer this way is not guaranteed even if your home is free of damp and mould, which if you are looking for a sale is not ideal.
Selling through an estate agent also means after paying for the estate agency fees and having to take time off work for the viewings, you still have other fees to pay such as legal fees and removal costs. These extra costs can add up and eat away at your final profit from your house sale.
Going Through Auction
An alternative to selling through an estate agent is to sell it through an auction. A huge bonus to selling your property this way is that sellers will be made aware of the damp and mould issue and won’t be put off by it.
At an auction, you agree on a minimum reserve price for your home and if a buyer bids on it, it will sell.
The best-case auction scenario is that multiple buyers will be interested in the property and will be outbidding each other, raising the final profit.
Another positive to selling a house with damp through an auction is that auctioneers have a lot of experience with selling a broad range of properties with problems such as damp and mould.
However, there are a couple of issues that come with selling through an auction. One of the issues that come with selling through an auction is that it involves a lot of waiting. Once you have listed your property for sale, you will have to wait for the next auction which could be weeks or months away. Waiting for the next auction is not ideal for sellers who are looking for a sale which is quick and hassle-free.
Even after the auction is complete, you will still have to wait for the paperwork to go through which can take a month or more, once again adding to the delay.
Furthermore, auctioneers charge a commission to cover the cost of marketing and selling your home, and this can eat away at the profit made from your house sale.
Cash Buyer
The third option for selling a house with damp is to sell it through a genuine cash buyer. A cash buyer is the best way to guarantee a sale on your house, even if it suffers from structural damage caused by damp and mould. Unlike other buyers on the open market who would be discouraged from purchasing a property infected with damp and mould, a cash buyer would not mind.
Another positive to selling through a cash buyer is that it means a guaranteed sale within a time frame that suits you.
If this sounds like something that you would be interested in, then look no further because we are here to help!
At The Property Buying Company, we are a cash buyer of houses who buy any house in any location in a time scale that suits you! Plus, we cover all the fees for you - even the legal ones!
We will only require one quick viewing to make sure that our cash offer is accurate and as we are a genuine cash buyer, once you’ve accepted our offer that is the amount you will get in FULL In your bank!
We are also a member of The National Association of Property Buyers and The Property Ombudsman, as well as being rated excellent on Trustpilot, with over 1000 reviews, allowing you to feel safe in our hands.
So, if damp treatment isn’t an option for you, give us a call or fill in our online form for a free, no-obligation CASH offer which we could have in your bank as soon as you choose…
FAQs
Can you paint over damp to hide it from buyers?
Painting over damp might temporarily hide the issue, but it won’t solve the underlying problem. In fact, it could worsen your situation by trapping moisture and leading to further damage. It’s important to address the root cause of dampness before applying any paint.
What happens if you sell a house with damp?
Selling a house with dampness can have various outcomes, but the most important factor is transparency. It’s legally required in the UK to disclose any known damp issues to potential buyers. Failure to do so can lead to legal consequences, such as being sued for misrepresentation or even fraud.
Disclosing the damp issue might necessitate accepting a lower offer for your property, as buyers will factor in the cost of repairs. However, this is a far better outcome than facing legal action or having the sale fall through later due to the dampness being discovered.
If you’re looking for a quick sale, you might consider selling to a cash buyer or a company specialising in buyer properties with issues, like us! We are a leading cash house buying company, and can buy your house in as little as 7 days.
Can you hide damp from a surveyor?
While it’s possible to temporarily mask some signs of dampness, a professional surveyor is trained to identify moisture-related problems. They will usually conduct a thorough inspection, including checking walls, floors, ceilings and external areas for signs of dampness.
What are the first signs of dampness in a house?
The first signs of dampness can include a musty smell, damp patches on walls or ceilings, peeling or bubbling paint or wallpaper, condensation on windows or walls, black mould growth, and salt deposits on walls.
How quickly can you buy my damp property?
When you sell your house with damp to us, we can work on a timeline that suits your needs, whether it’s 7 days or 3 months. We can buy any house, in any condition, in any location, and you won’t have to worry about any fees.
Can you sell a house with water damage?
Similar to dampness, selling a house with water damage requires disclosure of the issues to potential buyers. Depending on the extent of the damage, repairs may be necessary before the property can be sold.
If you would like to find out more, then click “Get your offer”, fill out your details and one of our property experts will contact you to discuss this further.
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