What a Proper Damp Report Contains (and What a Cheap Quote Leaves Out)

"Damp survey" covers everything from a two-minute walk-round to a court-usable forensic report. Here is the checklist a paid survey should meet, point by point, with where the expectations come from.

The checklist: what you should get for your money

The reports that carry legal or contractual weight

Not all reports count equally. A mortgage valuation or RICS survey flagging "high moisture readings" or "damp staining" often triggers a lender retention — the loan holds part of the funds until a proper damp & timber report is produced⁵. For legal disputes, a PCA-certified forensic or expert-witness report runs £400–£600+³. And for regulated social housing, the fix-it timeframes under Awaab's Law (in force since 27 October 2025) are enforced through the tenancy agreement itself, so an evidenced report is the document that starts and settles the clock¹⁴.

Who pays for the report

If the report you're offered doesn't meet the checklist, say so before paying — and remember that a "free" survey from a damp-proofing company is a sales visit: the diagnosis comes from the party that profits from recommending treatment¹.

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