Damp survey: what to expect and how it helps your case

Direct answer

A damp survey is an inspection by a specialist that identifies the type and cause of damp in your home and how to fix it. It is strong evidence for a disrepair claim because it shows the problem is real and the landlord's responsibility. In a claim with us the inspection is arranged for you at no cost; you do not have to pay for one yourself up front.

If your rented home has damp or mould problems, a professional damp survey can be a crucial piece of evidence. We cover what a damp survey is, who carries one out, what it covers, and how it can support a housing disrepair claim.

Key facts

• The 2024 to 2025 English Housing Survey found about 5% of homes in England, around 1.4 million, had a problem with damp, most common in privately rented homes (10%). English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
• Official guidance from the UK Health Security Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care links damp and mould in homes in England to around 5,000 cases of asthma and 8,500 lower respiratory infections among children and adults. Health risks of damp and mould, GOV.UK

What is a damp survey?

A damp survey is an inspection of a property by a qualified professional to identify the presence, type, source, and extent of damp. There are several different types of damp that can affect a property:

• Rising damp: moisture rising up through the walls from the ground, usually caused by a failed or absent damp-proof course
• Penetrating damp: water entering through the external walls, roof, or around windows, caused by structural problems such as damaged rendering, faulty gutters, or leaking roofs
• Condensation: moisture forming on cold surfaces from warm humid air inside the property, can be related to inadequate ventilation or heating

Identifying the correct type of damp is important because it determines who is responsible and what the fix should be. Penetrating damp and rising damp are almost always the landlord's responsibility. Condensation is more complex and depends on the cause.

Who carries out a damp survey?

Damp surveys are typically carried out by:

• Chartered surveyors (RICS-qualified) who can produce reports for use in legal proceedings
• Damp and timber specialists who provide technical assessments, though their reports may be seen as commercially motivated if they also sell treatments
• Building surveyors who assess the overall condition of a property including damp

In a housing disrepair claim, a surveyor instructed by the solicitor will produce an independent report that can be used as evidence. This is distinct from a survey commissioned by a landlord or a damp treatment company, which may have a different purpose.

What does a damp survey involve?

The surveyor will typically:

• Inspect the affected areas visually
• Use a moisture meter to measure moisture levels in walls, floors, and ceilings
• Check for the likely causes of the damp, failed gutters, cracked rendering, blocked ventilation, rising damp, leaks
• Photograph the affected areas
• Record their findings in a report

The report will usually include:

• A description of the damp found and its location
• Moisture readings taken during the survey
• The surveyor's assessment of the likely cause
• Recommendations for how the damp should be fixed

How does a damp survey help your disrepair claim?

A professional survey report can:

• Establish the nature and extent of the disrepair
• Identify the cause, which helps determine whether it is the landlord's responsibility
• Provide evidence of when the problem started or how long it has been present
• Support your account of conditions that you reported to the landlord but they did not fix

Courts give significant weight to independent professional evidence. A well-prepared survey report is one of the strongest pieces of evidence in a housing disrepair claim.

Should I commission my own survey?

If you are bringing a housing disrepair claim through a solicitor on a no win no fee basis, the solicitor will usually arrange for a surveyor to visit the property as part of the claim. You do not normally need to commission your own survey separately.

If you are not yet in contact with a solicitor and want independent evidence before reporting to the landlord or the council, you could commission your own survey, but be aware this will usually cost several hundred pounds.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

We arrange professional surveys as part of housing disrepair claims. If your home has damp or mould that your landlord has not fixed, call us.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home (GOV.UK)

Related articles

• What evidence do I need for a disrepair claim?
• How damp and mould affect your health