I live in a ground floor flat, I have quite a large high ceilinged from room. One wall is covered in damp all year round, I think this is because the outside of the wall does not get any sun. My landlord says I should have the heating on all year round, this can't be right?? also does anyone know of any products I could treat the wall with this winter??

Kate Long, October 2008

Kate

Have you considered speaking to your local authority. They should be able to require your landlord to carry out the necessary repairs/modifications whether the problem is internal or external, it's his property not yours! I doubt that the authority will be impressed with the comment that you should heat the property year round

Alan, October 2008

Kate,

If it's an outside wall as you say the dampness may be from a leaking gutter - wait till it rains (not a long wait) and have a look. Is the ground level higher than the damp course? More probably though...

The wall in shadow will be cold and the air inside warm and wet. Condensation will form on the inside surface of the cold wall especially if it's a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom - steam and hot breath. Keep bathroom and kitchen doors closed and the rooms well ventilated - open the widows for an airing when you can.

If you can warm the wall up - even a bit - it will help.

If the damp is from outside then the landlord should stop it at source. If the damp is on the inside, from condensation, then if you put a proprietary product onto your cold wall the condensation will still form on top of the cold sealer!

Search for Jeff Howell - he writes extensively on building maintenance and is excellent with dampness.

Richard Buxton, October 2008