Q. My daughter has seen a house for sale but there is staining on the bedroom walls suggesting dry rot. The vendor stated that remedial work hard been carried out to combat dry rot but cannot produce a certificate, Should she proceed?

Submitted by: AAW
 

A. Dry rot is unlikely to cause staining on walls so there may be some confusion here. Moisture causes staining and sometimes, but not always, a consequence of moisture penetration is dry rot. What does the staining look like?

What is the vendor able to produce to verify the type of work that has been undertaken? Bills, photos etc. Was it definitely dry rot? Many people think wet rot and even woodworm is dry rot. If your daughter really likes the house then arrange for qualified (CSRT) timber surveyors to inspect the property and ask them to pay particular attention to the suspect area. We suggest you seek three opinions. If the vendor is resistant walk away.