My 91 year mother in law lives in a chalk cottage - very old. Water is coming up through the conrete floor that was put down 38 years ago. She lives near a river. The water mark is half up the wallpaper in dining room and the kitchen is soggy under the fridge/freezer and rotted the lino also the chalk walls are beginning to crumble. Southern Water have tested the outside stopcock. How can I help her- she thinks her house insurance will cover all costs - I have my doubts?

The water mark is half up the wallpaper in dining room You aren't saying the house is flooded are you?
The very first thing you must do is find out where the water's coming from. Is this a broken water pipe or raising surface water? Are there water pipes under the cement? Let me know, Tom