Hello, thanks for your reply! Sorry I don't think I've made it very clear, the house wasn't new when I bought it, the walls were already painted by the previous owner, and all my dad did was go over it with new colours. The paint surface looks absolutely fine, colour is even etc. give or take a few sections which have been scratched moving furniture. The problem is that the actual paper is starting to pull away and almost curl away from the walls around the edges, e.g. at door frames and skirting. I presumed when I bought the house it was all plastered as it looked smooth, but I didn't get down on my hands and knees or anything to check edges so I've obviously missed the fact it has some kind of paper covering. The paper isn't decorative, it seems to have been used to create a smooth surface or to protect the wall.

So in short, my problem is that this paper is pulling away from the wall and is becoming visible in parts.

It may have wallpaper on the walls that was painted over. It could also be a paper liner to cover up fake wood paneling. I have never heard of sheetrock peeling. Short term, try gluing it down. Good luck.

Like voila says, perhaps it's lining paper that the previous owner painted? The wallpaper that the PO of our current house hung in the bathroom is peeling at the edges (humidity!) and is on our list of jobs to tackle. For now we glued down the loose bits ;)

Could it just be that the paper tape used with joint compound to span/join pieces of dry wall is not well adhered? Usually when a dry walled house is re-painted, professional painters will re-adhere loose tape before painting. If not, new paint may "seal" the tape for a short while and when the paint is fully cured, the tape will pop back up again.

Try gluing it back down and see what happens.

You mentioned it's peeling back from the door frames and skirting. Does that mean that your wood trim for the doors and baseboards does not cover the edges of the board? Those trims should overlap the wallboard.

Hi thanks for your reply, it's hard to tell, there are places where my skirting has been removed and yet to be replaced so I can clearly see the paper has been underneath skirting. Ive attached a picture that might help. It seems more like in this picture, that the paper is under the skirting and has almost 'snapped off' above it. The wall underneath seems to be fine but I'm scared to start removing it in case it's not all as easy.

http://pin.it/vp7_dr6

Debbie, Can you show photos of what is happening? Are there local people who you can show it to, who may be able to advise you? Would your estate agent be of any help?

The majority of the people in the forum are in the USA; have you asked anyone local to you about what is happening? This link below may have someone who could explain what needs to be done.

http://www.plasterersinedinburgh.co.uk/plastering-services/

From the photo you posted, it looks like peeling paint. Are you sure it's paper?

Do you know what the existing paint type was on the wall before your father put new paint on it? The word 'latex' in the article below is what you may call emulsion.
https://www.paintcare.org/news/can-use-latex-paint-oil-based-paint/

Sorry that's probably not the best example, that ones from my bathroom and it's definitely some kind of 'easy clean' paint, done by the previous owner as i havent touched that room with new paint at all. That one has actually pulled clean off the wall whereas in other rooms it's definitely paper and when I've pulled small bits off to test it it's pulled some of the soft plaster with it. I don't know why I didn't think of this before but the previous owner had out up a sort of partition wall to create a built in tv cabinet and when my brother pulled it down it had the same paper covering and soft plaster inside. I remember because I used my foot to break up the plaster and had to tear the paper too. I'll maybe have to just bite the bullet and ask my dad! I know for a fact he'll know what to do but I thought I'd ask first in case in was a big job, that's all he needs! Thanks very much everyone.