Damp problems can reduce house prices by 20%

YouGov, commissioned by damp-proofing experts Safeguard Europe, reveals that damp in properties deters home buyers and can reduce a home’s value by up to 20%.

Damp in homes – survey results

Developers renovating or converting properties must ensure any damp problems are resolved first, as a new survey by YouGov, commissioned by damp-proofing experts Safeguard Europe, reveals that damp problems in houses deters would-be homebuyers and can reduce house prices by 20%.

YouGov spoke to around 1,300 homeowners

• 91% would be discouraged from making an offer should they discover damp
• 42% of homeowners said that they would abandon the purchase altogether
• 48% saying that they would reduce their offer, over one third of those by up to 20%
• With an average UK house price* of around £214,000, this equates to over £42,000

Damp was by far the biggest deterrent, ahead of small rooms (70%), unwanted odours (56%) and an overgrown garden (22%).

How common are damp problems?

• 48% of homeowners surveyed said that they had lived in homes with a damp problem
• 52% of renters lived in homes with a damp problem

Effects of damp in homes

Damp in homes can have a negative effect on health, comfort and family finances. Damp walls are also less effective insulators, allowing heat to escape faster. And according to the NHS**, mp and mould increases the likelihood of respiratory infections, allergies and asthma, particularly in the very young and the very old.

Dealing with damp in homes

However, dealing with damp is often not as difficult or time-consuming as many people imagine. Safeguard Director Hudson Lambert said the survey demonstrates that most people see damp as a huge problem, but that doesn’t have to be the case. With the right knowledge and the right products, damp can be tackled successfully and much more easily and quickly than people imagine.

Given the potential impact on house prices and the likelihood that damp will increase the time a house is on the market, Safeguard’s advice to sellers would be to address problems with damp properly before putting a home up for sale. The implicit finding of the survey is that investing in remedial works now would lead to a better price and less time on the market in future.

About Safeguard Europe

Safeguard Europe’s offer proven damp-proofing solutions is supported by the company’s own highly qualified and experienced staff. The support and know-how they offer is extended to contractors, specifiers and property owners and includes technical advice, specification help, research and even in-house laboratory analysis of plaster and masonry.

Link to full survey results

Contact:

Safeguard Europe,
Redkiln Close,
Horsham,
West Sussex,
United Kingdom,
RH13 5QL

Phone: 01403 210204
Fax: 01403 217529

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