Selling a House with Damp: What You Need to Declare

If your property has damp issues, you need to know your legal obligations when selling — and the smartest way to handle the situation to protect both the sale and yourself.

What Must You Disclose?

Under the Property Information Form (TA6) that sellers complete, you're asked specifically about damp and rot. Knowingly providing false information on this form can expose you to legal liability after completion.

You must disclose: - Any known active damp problems - Previous damp treatment carried out (including the type of treatment and whether guarantees exist) - Any known timber rot or woodworm infestation

What Happens If Damp Is Discovered?

Buyers typically instruct a surveyor, and damp problems will appear in the survey report. When they do, buyers have three options:

1. Proceed at the agreed price (rare)
2. Renegotiate the price downward
3. Pull out of the purchase

A significant damp problem discovered late in the process can cause a sale to collapse.

The Case for Treating Damp Before Selling

Treating damp before marketing generally makes better financial sense. A £1,500 damp treatment might prevent a buyer requesting a £5,000 reduction. You can also advertise any treatment guarantee as a selling point.

Get a Survey First

Before committing to treatment, get a professional damp survey. This tells you exactly what you're dealing with and allows you to get like-for-like quotes for the work.

Shadbolt Plastering provides pre-sale damp surveys and treatment across South London and Surrey — often at short notice.