Guides
When is a damp survey worth paying for?
Damp surveys range from a £200 visual inspection to a £1,500 structural report. Knowing which you need — and when you can triage yourself first — saves money and avoids the wrong fix.
Triage yourself vs pay a professional
If the issue is small, recent, and in a wet-room or cold corner, you can often improve it with ventilation and heating habits first. If it's spreading, structural, or you suspect rising or penetrating damp, you need a qualified eye.
What a damp survey actually involves
- Visual inspection of internal and external walls
- Damp meter readings (electrical resistance or capacitance — best used as one signal, not the answer)
- Sometimes thermal imaging to identify cold bridging or hidden moisture
- Inspection of guttering, downpipes, ground levels and damp-proof course
- A written report with recommendations
What it costs
- £200–£500 for a basic visual damp inspection
- £500–£1,500 for a full structural damp survey from a RICS or PCA-qualified surveyor
- Free 'surveys' from damp-proofing contractors — be cautious; they sell the treatment they recommend
Red flags that always need a professional
- Suspected rising damp (horizontal tide mark, salts on walls)
- Damp linked to an insurance claim or sale of the property
- Multiple rooms affected, especially on the same wall
- Health symptoms in the household linked to mould exposure
- Visible structural movement near damp patches
How to find a reputable surveyor
- RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) — Building Surveyors with damp experience
- PCA (Property Care Association) — but choose 'CSDB' (independent) rather than a contractor
- Always ask: 'Will the report be independent of any company that would carry out the work?'
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