Guarantees-Damp & Insects Infestation

[Wings]

I have an investment property which I purchased some 12 years ago, and in that time through paint pealing from walls, damp patches appearing on interior walls, I have had to repeatedly re-decorate the property.

Today whilst looking through the property's Tile Deeds, I find that within the guarantee period of 30 years, several approved damp/preservations contractors were commissioned by the previous owner to eradicate both rising damp and insect infestation. These works were carried out 20 years ago, with a 30 year guarantee being issued to the then owner, and any possible future owner/s.

I have always felt these type of guarantees are worthless, has anyone made a claim against such a guarantee, and what result did you have, and what legal rights does one have to pursue a claim/

[C Lee Farquar]

If you have the original survey, receipt & guarantee (not photocopies) and the Company is still in existence or there is insurance...possibly.

However if the Damp Company didn't do the re-plastering, the expensive bit, it's probably not worth pursuing.

If the damp is to internal walls, rather than internal surfaces of external walls, you can be fairly sure it's rising damp unless there is a significant plumbing leak to the sub floor. If the damp is to external walls only then I would look for other sources of damp before assuming it's rising damp.

[TooLateForAName]

Yep.

Rising damp might not be a myth, but it is certainly a hell of a lot less common than the injector people would have you think.


Go round and make sure all the real issues are ok, gutters, ground levels, drainage etc.

[Wings]

Thanks for your replies, however rightly or wrongly I have little confidence in these types of guarantees, together with surveys and reports prepared by Damp Proofing Contractors. One property with the damp problem, over the past 15 years has had three lots of damp prevention treatments, by three differing companies, in the same location within the property, and the damp is now starting to reappear.

I have two of the above companies carrying out a survey next week, be interesting to see what their reactions are when I remind them of their guarantees.

[Wings]

Thanks for your replies, however rightly or wrongly I have little confidence in these types of guarantees, together with surveys and reports prepared by Damp Proofing Contractors. One property with the damp problem, over the past 15 years has had three lots of damp prevention treatments, by three differing companies, in the same location within the property, and the damp is now starting to reappear.

I have two of the above companies carrying out a survey next week, be interesting to see what their reactions are when I remind them of their guarantees.

[C Lee Farquar]

If it's been treated three times and is still a problem then that would suggest the problem is other than rising damp. If you post some internal and external pictures plus any information you have on any plastering that has been done (and when), it should be possible to narrow down the probable causes.