Poor damp proof company reports

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:32:10 GMT

Poor damp proof company estimate £15k+vat for this to be repaired

First and foremost, this is not a dig at all damp-proofing companies—standards vary in every profession. In surveying, for example, there are unfortunately some very poor surveyors out there, even among those who are qualified.

This case is one I encountered recently (with a similar example last year), and it highlights a serious issue: unnecessary, costly work being recommended following a poor investigation into a damp problem and I'm sure proferteering.

The property in question was a rental and subject to an enforcement notice from the local council, so there was already time and pressure to carry out repairs.

A report and estimate from a local timber and damp specialist company painted a very alarming picture. It suggested extensive damage, including wet rot and possibly dry rot, and recommended significant structural work at over £15+VAT.

For any property owner—especially a landlord—this was extremely concerning and potentially very expensive and in this situation, the landlord decided to get a second oppinion.

The reality was very different when it was independently inspected.

The actual cause was a minor pipe leak, along with some water ingress at a corner of the building due to a poorly executed external repair (ironically, by another damp-proofing contractor). The situation did not warrant the proposed works, which included stripping back walls, removing original lath and plaster (which was in good condition), and replacing large sections of timber and floorboards that were perfectly sound for their age.

There were also recommendations to apply modern cement-based treatments and chemical solutions to the lower brickwork, without any consideration for the building’s traditional construction. This kind of approach can often do more harm than good, particularly in older properties that need to “breathe.”

In my professional opinion, the scope of work outlined was excessive and unjustified. When recommendations appear to go far beyond what is necessary, it raises serious questions, How do they get away with it? as the repair was costed at less than £1k

The key factor is simple: if you are faced with a similar situation of high repair bills regarding damp issues, seek advice from an independent moisture surveyor. A single-defect report—typically starts in the region from £425 and can save you thousands in unnecessary work as in this case and help ensure that any repairs are appropriate for the building and most of all, necessary.

In this case, My client saved thousand's due to employing an independent surveyor, and the house is now fixed and all signed of by the housing officer and can breathe a sigh of relief, lituraly.

Mold and Moisture in the Housing and Local Authority

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:08:05 GMT

The facts

From 22 November 2022 , the Regulator of Social Housing wrote formally to all registered social housing providers (housing associations and local authority landlords), making clear that they must demonstrate they have effective systems in place to identify, record, investigate and deal with damp, mould and associated hazards in the homes they manage. Providers were asked to submit evidence showing:

That they have proactive systems and processes to identify damp and mould issues;
How they record and monitor reported or suspected cases;
How they investigate sources of moisture and mould; and
How they ensure timely and effective remediation to protect tenant health.

This directive forms part of the Regulator’s oversight under the Consumer Standards in the social housing regulatory framework, which requires homes to be safe, free from serious hazards, and maintained to a decent standard . Landlords who fail to meet these standards risk regulatory action.

Importantly, this regulatory emphasis predates and feeds directly into more formal legal duties now being introduced under “Awaab’s Law” — the provisions in the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 that amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (via a new section 10A) and underpin a new statutory framework for dealing with hazards, including damp and mould. From 27 October 2025 , the first phase of Awaab’s Law requires social landlords to:

Investigate emergency hazards (including serious damp and mould) as soon as possible — generally within 24 hours if there is imminent risk;
Investigate significant damp and mould hazards reported by tenants within 10 working days of notification;
Take action to make the property safe within a further five working days after inspection; and
Provide tenants with a written summary of findings shortly after inspection.

The Regulations implementing these duties (the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025) set out these timeframes and clarify landlord responsibilities. Social landlords must also prepare for further phases, with additional hazard categories (such as excess cold, heat and fire safety risks) coming into scope in 2026 and 2027 .

Separately, under existing statutory provisions — particularly the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 — all rented properties (social and private) must be fit to live in and free from conditions prejudicial to health (which includes severe damp and mould). This means landlords cannot simply ignore or delay remediation where damp and mould constitute a hazard that affects tenant health and safety; local authorities and tenants themselves may enforce these duties through Environmental Health or civil action.