I had a survey done on my new house & it did not ditect a very obvious rising damp problem? Do I have rights??

A survey would not have detected a damp problem.only an inspection by a licensed inspector would have detected it.

Having seen some of these surveys, they are just produced from standrad documents using 'cut and paste'. The surveyor just goes over with a checklist and from the ticks on that checklist, the program pulls out the standard phrases and sentences and compiles the report. No sweat. Not surprising that so many things get missed out. The small prints usually exclude any come-back.

Yes, you have rights. Legitimate inspectors have insurance called errors and omissions. You will have to document (probably with a qualified inspector) that the the condition exists and should have been observed.

It really depends on what survey u had done.

Home buyers survey
The general condition of the property
Any major faults in accessible parts of the building that may affect the value
Any urgent problems that need inspecting by a specialist before u sign a contract
Results of tests for damp in the walls
Damage to timbers – including woodworm or rot
The condition of any damp-proofing, insulation & drainage (though drains aren’t tested)
The estimated cost of rebuilding the property for insurance purposes
The value of the property on the open market.

A Building Survey can include details of:

Major & minor defects & what they could mean
The possible cost of repairs
Results of damp testing on walls
Damage to timbers – including woodworm & rot
The condition of damp-proofing, insulation & drainage (though drains aren’t tested)
Technical information on the construction of the property & the materials used
The location
Recommendations for any further special inspections.

Then there is a BTL survey, which the surveyor gives a basic report & valuation, then uses a local letting agent to give a rental valuation.

So unless it was a full servey costing around £750, u have little come back.