What Should You Do if your Neighbour Has Dry Rot?

4 February 2025

Knowing that your neighbour is having problems with their property can be a real worry, especially if you suspect that their problem might start creeping over to your own home.

One of these problems that might cause you concern is dry rot, a horrible fungus that can quickly spread if the conditions are right and the dry rot is left untreated. This could be a real worry for you, especially if your properties have any connected or closely located timber that dry rot might potentially be able to travel through.

So, if your neighbour has dry rot, should you be worried, and what can you do?

Can I Get Dry Rot from a Neighbour?

The short answer here is yes, your property can absolutely develop a dry rot problem from a neighbours property.

Dry rot is a type of fungus, and that means it’s alive. When it lands on timber it quickly grows into a fruiting body (that distinctive orange fuzzy fruiting body that you might associate with dry rot), so that it can release its spores, and spread further throughout the timber.

Because the spores are released into the air, dry rot can potentially spread from one timber beam to another even if they aren’t connected. All that matters is that the timber itself provides the right conditions within which the dry rot spores can thrive, and that means that the timber contains a moisture level of around 20%, or above.

So, if your neighbour had dry rot in their properties structural timber (for example), and your property also had timber in a close proximity, then there is every chance that the tiny spores released by dry rot could travel through the air and land on your properties timber.

Then, if your properties timber also meets the conditions for dry rot spores to germinate and grow it won’t be long until your property shares the same dry rot issue as your neighbour.

Now, some properties are going to be more at risk than others. A mid-terraced house, for example, is going to be more likely to develop dry rot from a neighbour than a semi-detached one, as there are more points of contact with the neighbour, and potentially a closer proximity to other properties as well.

Obviously this is only one example, and there are other ways in which dry rot spores might easily get into your property, but in conclusion, yes, your property can easily develop dry rot from a neighbour.

How Can I Tell if My Properties’ Dry Rot Problem is From a Neighbour?

Realistically, there is going to be no certain way for someone who isn’t trained in property care surveying to tell where a dry rot problem might have stemmed from, and if you are looking for a specific cause then it might be best to enlist the services of a surveyor.

In some cases it might be easy to tell that a directly neighbouring property is at fault.

If, for example, you look at the exterior of a semi-detached property and can see that it is well maintained, the exterior walls are all free from damp, the gutters are clean and clear, and the brickwork is all dry and safe, then it’s safe to assume that it might be free from major property care problems.

However, if the adjoining property is clearly run down, with visible damp problems, rotting window sills, and clear signs of degradation, then you might be able to easily assume where the dry rot problem has stemmed from, and whose lack of action can be to blame for the spread of the dry rot.

However, this is an easy example. In many cases dry rot can spread virtually unnoticed, underneath carpet and within subfloor voids, without owners even noticing. It’s in these instances in which a surveyor will be vital, as they can determine the specific cause of the dry rot, along with the different factors that are allowing it to grow in your property.

What if My Neighbour’s Property is Responsible for my Dry Rot?

If you believe that it’s your neighbours property that is responsible for the dry rot outbreak in your own property, then you are going to struggle to prove it, unless you hire a properly qualified surveyor who can identify a clear path the dry rot took from the neighbouring property to your own.

This is because dry rot spreads by releasing its spores into the air, and naturally, this means that the spores could come from literally anywhere, not just next door.

In the event that two connected properties do have timber in a close proximity that both have a dry rot problem, then a surveyor will need to identify the source of the moisture which has allowed the dry rot to grow, as this will be a key signal as to why the dry rot has grown and spread.

Now, in the event that a source of moisture cannot be found in your own property, the chances are that it will stem from your neighbours. To be certain, the surveyor will need to be granted access to the neighbours property to properly ascertain the source of the moisture as proof, but without these findings, you won’t have any concrete evidence.

So, in order to make sure it’s your neighbours property responsible for the dry rot and not your own, engage with a properly qualified surveyor from the Property Care Association. Only with the kind of proof they can provide can you pursue legal action to chase the cost of any dry rot treatment and related timber repair or replacement costs.

How Can I Get Rid of Dry Rot If It Came from a Neighbouring Property?

If there is one thing you need to know about tackling dry rot, it’s that dry rot spores can only grow on timber that contains a moisture level of 20% or more.

So, if you notice that your properties timber is showing signs of a dry rot infestation, then it might be worth investigating why your timber might be damp in the first place. Eliminating the source of the moisture is not only a good way to put a halt to the spread of dry rot, but it will act as a natural defence as well, as the dry rot spores will be unable to grow on your timber at all after landing on it.

Then you will have to deal with any dry rot that has already grown within your property, and make sure that the affected timber is either repaired properly, or replaced with timber that can perform the same function as the original.

Luckily, Timberwise are experts in dry rot treatment and timber repair. You can book a survey from our team online, and we can help you discover the cause of your dry rot and make sure that its properly removed from your property.

Just call 0800 288 8660, or fill in one of our online contact forms to arrange for a visit from our team of PCA-accredited experts.

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