My home is plagued by damp, how can I sell it?

Damp is unsightly and can cause serious health issues if it isn’t dealt with quickly. If your home has a damp problem, it’s highly likely it will be classed as a ‘problem property’. Open Property Group looks at the different types of damp that may occur and how it could affect selling your home.

What types of damp are there?

The three main types of damp are:

• Condensation damp: this occurs when the air outside is colder than the air inside, causing water droplets in the air to condense on cold surfaces like windows, doors and even walls. The moisture produced can lead to mould growth.
• Rising damp: this is where moisture rises from the ground into a building. It is more common in older properties that don’t have a damp proof course. Look out for water stains on wallpaper, peeling paint and tide marks on the walls. Rising damp is very serious and needs a surveyor to identify the cause.
• Penetrating damp: this happens when water leaks into a building through a wall, roof or even ceiling. It can be caused by broken roof tiles, overflowing gutters and damaged brickwork.

Is damp in a house a big problem?

Dampness in your home can be a big problem, especially if it is rising or penetrating damp. These types indicate a bigger problem in the building that will be identified during the survey when selling your property. Usually, the root cause of rising or penetrating damp will need fixing with an element of structural work. Condensation damp is usually a result of lifestyle factors and can be eradicated with a few changes to how people live.

What happens when you live with damp?

Damp does not just affect buildings; it can have severe health implications too. According to the NHS, inhaling or touching mould spores could cause an allergic reaction and even an asthma attack or severe breathing problems.

What happens if you don’t fix damp?

If it isn’t treated, damp can cause serious issues to a property, including structural decay. The longer the issues go on for, the higher the risk that there is long-lasting damage and the bigger the health implications.

Can you sell a home with damp?

If you want to sell house fast, damp problems can be very off putting for buyers, especially if your damp is clearly visible. In serious cases, you might not find a buyer on the open market and a mortgage lender may refuse a loan on a damp house, leaving you with few options.

Sell your home to us

Open Property Group will buy any property, even with untreated damp and rising damp. There’s no need to get the damp treated or make maintenance repairs. We will buy the property ‘as seen’ and our process starts with an instant cash offer.

Damp FAQs

Q. Can I paint over damp to hide it from buyers?

A. No, it is a legal requirement to declare any problems with your home to buyers on the TA6 Property Information Form. If you fail to do so and damp is later found to be an issue, the buyer could take legal action against you.

Q. What are the first signs of damp in a house?

A. Condensation damp can present itself as small grey, black or green spots. They often form in clusters on ceilings, in corners and around window sills in bathrooms and kitchens. Rising damp often occurs below waist height, forming extensive patches of black or green mould. Precursors of the mould stage include water-stained walls, bubbling paintwork and flaking masonry. The signs of penetrating damp are similar to rising damp but are more commonly seen on ceilings and in the top corners of rooms. If the wall is an outside one, there may also be moss growing on the other side and wet brickwork.

Q. How quickly can you buy my damp property?

A. We can arrange exchange on any property, including those with significant damp problems, within seven working days, with cash paid directly into your bank account.