Rising Damp On Internal Walls Neighbours House Empty For 5 Years Damp can be a major issue in the home. Find answers to questions or post your own here.

[julie1234]

Morning
Can anyone help me please; we have a semi detached house with rising damp on 2 internal walls in the living room and dining room.

The elderly couple on the house next door passed away 5 years ago and the house hasn't been occupied since. It did go through probate and now belongs to the ladies brother, but unfortunately he hasn't been to the house for 3 years and we have been maintaining the garden and generally checking on the house.

There hasn't been any heating in the house for 4 years as the boiler broke and the brother wouldn't get it repaired; 3 years ago during the very cold winter there was a burst pipe in the kitchen and bathroom(which we think could have been leaking for a couple of days before we noticed it). We sorted it out and got the water turned off as the brother again wouldn't come round to sort it out.

We recently noticed our wallpaper peeling off and have had it confirmed by a damp expert that we have rising damp in both rooms, we took him next door and he advised that it was coming from there as they also have it.

We have been quoted £650.00 to get it treated, which means stripping all of the wallpaper and the wall being hacked away, treated and re-plastered (we have only just decorated in the dining room!!). He can't give is any guarantees and says it will come back if next door isn't treated.

Can anyone offer any advise on the following please:
Can we claim on our insurance for any of this work?
Is it worth doing if there aren't any guarantees?
Is there anything we can do about the owners lack of care?

I would really appreciate any help or advice that anyone can offer please?

Thanks & Regards
Julie

[welsh brickie]

you can show the owner the damp report and suggest he pay half, if damp is proven to be his fault, then you can take him to court, as you have been taking care of his garden its not unreasonable