How much does a damp survey cost?

A lot of property owners in the United Kingdom suffer from damp issues, and unfortunately it's never a pleasant experience.

The root causes of damp can also be quite difficult (or sometimes near impossible) to spot with the naked eye. That's why it's always better to get a damp survey done before you purchase a home - that way you know exactly what you're signing up for.

But how much does a damp survey cost? Let's take a look.

What is damp?

Damp is a pesky problem homeowners in the UK may experience. It forms from excess moisture in the building and is caused by a number of factors including condensation through rainwater, and rising damp.

As we all know, the UK can be a wet country for large parts of the year, leaving buildings very susceptible to damp, especially in the winter months.

You don't want to leave damp untreated as it can cause a lot of problems, not just to your property, but to the occupants too. Damp can trigger asthma, cause throat and eye irritation, coughing and wheezing, and runny nose. Not what you want from your home!

Different types of damp

Structural damp

This is the presence of unwanted moisture within the building's walls or structure. It can be from infiltration from the outside or condensation from within the structure.

Rising damp

Rising damp is quite a rare form of damp. It affects the walls of a building and happens when moisture from the ground level travels through the walls by capillary action.

It'll cause damage to the internal walls; plaster, wallpaper and paint can deteriorate and you'll often see a visible stain that looks like a tide mark. The mortar might crumble and the damp may leave white salt stains on the walls.

Most properties will have a barrier installed at the lower level of the wall to prevent rising damp. This is referred to as a damp proof course (DPC). A damp proof course is made of water-resistant materials like slate and plastic. However, in older houses, these barriers may not be present.

Penetrating damp

Penetrating damp is caused by water leaking through the walls, and will often happen if your property has structural problems like wall cracks, faulty roofing, burst gutters and pipes or air gaps.

You'll first notice penetrating damp through a watermark that appears on your decoration. As the water keeps leaking through the walls, the damp patches will grow and grow.

It's always better to get professional advice to identify the root cause of penetrating damp, otherwise you might find it comes back in future.

Condensation damp

The most common type of damp is condensation damp. It forms really easily and quickly, but this also means it can be removed a lot more easily too.

The colder months will generally see more condensation as people turn up the heating to keep warm. Combined with the cooler outside temperatures, this creates a perfect environment for condensation to form.

The best way to get rid of condensation damp is through ventilation.

What causes damp?

Damp is caused by the moisture levels of the environment, like condensation and rain penetration. You can also get damp in your home from daily living like showers and baths, cooking and drying clothes.

The more moisture that's released into the air, the more likely condensation will occur, which gives damp a chance to grow.

Elevated humidity

Elevated humidity refers to the capillary penetration of water from the bottom to top through the concrete or masonry of the building.

Thermal bridging

A thermal bridge refers to a point that shows a change in thermal resistance. This means mould spores are more likely to appear in the corners of walls or at the floor-wall meeting point.

Higher moisture levels

No matter what causes the damp, the more excess moisture there is in the property, the stronger the damp will become.

That's why moisture control and humidity control is so important for a building to function properly. It protects residents from health problems caused by damp, as well as structural issues or other physical damage to the building.

Not only that, it also protects the contents inside the building from any damp related damage as well.

Damp related issues and problems

If damp isn't too bad it may only cause minor damage like a few penetrating damp patches of water stains or mould. But if it gets out of hand, it can cause some serious damage to your property like structural decay and crumbling plaster.

What is a damp survey?

While a general property survey looks at the overall condition of the property, a damp survey assesses (you guessed it!) damp areas on your property.

If you see any signs of damp in your home, or a home you want to buy, you should always get a damp survey done.

Damp surveyors will conduct a survey to investigate any damp areas in the property using specialist equipment to assess how severe the issue is. They'll use a damp meter to inspect the house as well as looking for visual clues.

They'll look out for areas of rotting wood, rising damp issues, excessive condensation around windows, wet plaster, and other areas of potential damp problems.

Make sure you seek advice from a qualified damp specialist: either a CRDS (Certificated Remedial Damp-proofing Surveyor), or a CSTDB (Certificated Surveyor of Timber & Damp in Buildings). Only approved damp surveyors will be able to properly assess your property and give you a thorough report.

Damp specialists will be able to give you an accurate damp report, assess the damage and quote you an accurate cost of how much it'll be to repair any issues.

What does a damp survey involve?

A qualified professional damp surveyor will map the moisture patterns in the walls and structure of a building.

The survey will then reveal how the moisture moves through the damp floors, walls, window frames, and other areas of the building. This will show which areas need treating and which areas may need damp proofing for the future.

You'll get all the findings in a damp report that will include recommendations for treatment.

How long does a damp survey take?

A damp survey will usually take between two and three hours to complete.

How long it takes will depend on a number of different factors, from the type of damp in the building, how big your home is, as well as how severe the damp is. This could include broken roof tiles, wet skirting boards, faulty guttering, damaged plaster and wallpaper peeling, or any other signs of water damage.

How much does a damp survey cost?

How much your damp survey costs will depend on several factors. For example, the bigger your home is and the more rooms you have, the longer the damp survey will take and therefore the more it'll cost. And the more severe the damp is, the higher the survey cost will be.

For example, a two bedroom house may incur a damp survey cost of £200, while a four bedroom house could cost closer to £400.

You'll also have to take in any cost considerations like travel to your home and other fixed costs the survey company may include in your fee. Location will also have an impact, with areas in London and the South East of England being significantly more expensive.

You'll also have to factor in the survey report they'll create once the survey has been completed.

Even though it may seem expensive, it's always better to act early. If damp is left untreated, it'll build up and build up, which can cause even greater damage to your property. like structural problems and dark mould.

And repairing serious damp issues like this can cost you thousands of pounds in the long run.

Check out our blog to learn more about how to sell a house with damp.

Damp and timber survey

Some mortgage lenders might ask for you to complete a damp and timber survey as part of your property survey. This damp and timber survey cost will be between £200 and £300.

Can you do a damp survey yourself?

You might want to avoid damp survey costs and carry out a complete damp survey yourself, but this isn't really recommended.

Getting expert advice from a specialist surveyor with the relevant accreditation will ensure you cover all the issues and will give you the best possible chance of avoiding future problems. They'll have the specialised knowledge and equipment to fully assess the issue and come up with the best solutions.

Here is an estimated damp survey cost for different properties in London (a more expensive part of the country).

Summary: Damp surveys are a worthwhile investment!

Ultimately, even though a damp survey cost can set you back a few hundred pounds, it's well worth the investment in the long run. After all, you don't want to be suffering from huge issues further down the line like structural damage and physical illness!

Your estate agent may be able to give you recommendations about local damp surveyors if you're considering a house sale or property purchase.

Check out our Estate Agent Comparison Tool for a shortlist of top-performing agents in your area.