Damp Basement.. what really works?

The reason it is damp down there is because water is coming in through the cement (either through a crack, pinhole, snap ties, or just a part that has been eroding away for years).

There are 2 ways to approach this. From the outside or the inside. The outside method requires the area around the basement to be dug up so that new weeping tile can be put in and a new membrane can be installed to the wall. This is probably not an option for you if your landlord is being cheap (been there!).

The way to do it from the inside requires that where the wall is leaking be exposed. Then, a contractor can do a special application that will fix it. A couple of things to keep in mind with this... Make sure that the contractor uses something based with crystals. The crystals grow towards water and make the wall self-healing should the problem that caused the leak re-arise. One of the Major brands that use this method (and a company to contact for a contractor in your area) is Kryton. http://www.kryton.com/ The prices will vary depending on the severity of the problem with the wall, but will still be a lot cheaper (and usually guaranteed to be long lasting) than the outside repair.

It definitely is a problem that your landlady should help you out with though. Water=mold. Mold=serious health problems that may affect you years down the line.

Hope this helps!

You need ventilation and a moisture barrier IE:epoxy paint such as a MP7 from Stonehard Co. but the walls & floor need to be cleaned before application. expensive, hard to do& not your responsibility. Mold & mildew can be very very bad health wise.From past experience if the owner will not fix the problem I would move from health concerns.

Maybe you should try installing a dehumidifier, a little expensive but they do remove a lot of moister from the air.