How to Deal with Damp in an Office

When it comes to dampness and mould in the workplace, it can be tricky to know who is responsible for dealing with these issues. Quite simply, there’s much confusion surrounding damp in the workplace in the UK. This is mainly down to the fact that damp typically presents itself in residential homes; however, it can also become an issue within commercial properties. 

It’s not uncommon for businesses to take pride in their workspaces, meaning that any damp issues must be handled as a matter of urgency. This is especially true of customer-facing environments, as the company building is representative of the business. As a result, all first impressions will be formed on the condition of the property at hand, and any signs of rising or penetrating damp indicate an unkempt environment. Typically speaking, the presence of rising or penetrating damp is something that a landlord must handle. If you’re a manager of a commercial property, be sure to get in touch with Garratt’s Damp & Timber. 

What is Rising Damp?

First thing’s first, it must be understood what rising damp actually is. Well, rising damp is among the most severe yet misunderstood damp issues when it comes to UK properties. Rising damp refers to groundwater entering a property through porous bricks and will be identifiable via a tidemark on the interior wall. This will be no higher than one metre from the ground, as gravity will take action and inhibit the water from spreading any further. 

Rising damp is typically a result of an absent or faulty Damp Proof Course (DPC), which is installed to block water from making its way through the brickwork. As a result, landlords of commercial properties with damp issues will need to contact a damp proofing company such as ourselves to remedy the rising damp.

What is Penetrating Damp?

If your property isn’t affected by rising damp, it may fall victim to penetrating damp, which occurs when water infiltrates through an external wall into the building. This happens when brick- or stonework has degraded, enabling water to enter the property. Penetrating damp can be identified via damp patches and stains, as well as crumbling plaster, spores, and even drips or puddles.

As previously mentioned, penetrating damp becomes an issue when brickwork is damaged or porous. The longer that this is left, the more of an issue it becomes for the property, so it must be attended to as quickly as possible. Therefore, landlords who encounter damp in their commercial properties must reach out to a damp proofing company like Garratt’s Damp & Timber to amend penetrating damp problems. 

Landlord Obligations

As of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, commercial landlords are legally obligated to handle any repairs concerning the exterior and structure of the property. In addition to this, electricity, gas, water, and heating supplies must all be in working order. Since rising and penetrating damp problems are usually a result of faulty structuring, meaning that landlords must diagnose and resolve any damp issues, as well as the damage that is caused by such. 

Here at Garratt’s Damp & Timber, we understand the pressure and stress that comes alongside managing a commercial property. Allow us to take all the hassle from your hands and diagnose and treat your premises of any damp issues. 

A Landlord’s Duty to Repairing Damp and Mould

When it comes to renting any space, whether it be residential or commercial, there will be a tenancy agreement in place. Within this agreement, landlords will state their commitment to property maintenance and repairs. Despite this, they need to be made aware of any damp issues in order to take action. Therefore, tenants of commercial properties are expected to notify their landlord of any signs of damp. 

These signs will need to be attended to within two weeks of notification, and landlords must provide a formal plan to resolve existing damp problems and prevent future issues from arising. If landlords don’t respond within the 14-day window, tenants are permitted to report them to the local authority. Therefore, it’s vital to take action almost immediately against damp if you’re a landlord. 

Deal with Damp in an Office with Garratt’s Damp & Timber

When it comes to resolving damp issues with Garratt’s Damp & Timber, the process couldn’t be simpler. Once you get in touch, we can offer you a no-obligation site survey in order to determine the extent of your damp issue and what treatment is required. Should you choose to proceed with our services, we’ll use our 20 years of expertise to fix your company’s damp problems and prevent further damp-related issues from arising.

If you’re experiencing damp issues in London or the home counties, be sure to contact us to learn more about what we can do for your property.