Damp and moisture meters
What should you ask if a survey quotes a moisture reading but does not name the meter?
Ask for the type of meter and for what else was seen at that spot. A reading without the instrument, the location and a description of the surface is not a diagnosis. The surveyor may still be right that the area needs a proper look.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
RICS home surveys are visual. Meters are commonly used as a comparative aid against a dry part of the same building. Without knowing whether the meter used pins or a pad, you cannot tell how much the lining, the salts or a metal fixing might have affected it.
Write the question while the firm still has the site notes. A later damp contractor who only sees the phrase “high readings” may quote for a damp-proof course that the survey never recommended. The Property Care Association expects the cause to be identified before treatment is sold.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which meter was used, and was a dry comparison reading taken nearby?
- What did the plaster, the skirting and the outside face look like at that point?
- Is the recommendation a specialist investigation, or only a note of the reading?
What are the typical next steps?
- Email the surveying firm and ask for the meter type and the location in writing.
- Do not accept a damp-proofing quote that repeats the survey’s phrase and adds a price.
- If you need the cause before exchange, instruct someone who will inspect, not only inject.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Is a percentage on a meter a legal standard?
No. There is no government pass mark for a surveyor’s moisture meter. The useful record is the pattern of readings plus what could be seen.
Should the seller pay for the extra visit?
That is a negotiation, not a rule. The survey does not transfer the bill to the seller. Ask your solicitor what the contract allows before you assume anyone else will pay.