Owning your own home

It thinks you're pretty dull too.

(sorry. I am bafflingly fond of Catford and get extremely defensive whenever anyone criticises it.)

But it would be better with a cinema (and a gun shop).

There's a cinema in Beckenham. And a fishing shop (although it's virtually in Penge).

But no gun shop.

A guy from the council said they were considering a cinema for Catford centre. Obviously if it goes ahead it won't be for years. But still.

beckenham is like a different universe. The gun shop was rad I miss it, and the plastic cat which I hope they never get rid of. The best bit is blythe hill way I reckon and they should never have been allowed to convert the cinema into luxury flats.

they (the cuntos behind the ritzy) are allegedly trying to shoehorn a cinema into the rather pleasant library on west norwood (4 lyf) high street.

they (the cuntos behind the ritzy) are allegedly trying to shoehorn a cinema into the rather pleasant library on west norwood (4 lyf) high street.

and you're complaining? cinema over library anyday

i'm not complaining, i do however resent the ritzy considering opening up shop on my doorstep whilst not paying their staff a london living wage.

Hi, can someone recommend a good solicitor. My friend is buying a flat and I can't recommend mine as it was crap. Thanks

dont know about that, whats the story? I always like the ritzy as a cinema

then i wouldn't recommend going there to catch a movie today.

http://www.brixtonblog.com/ritzy-cinema-closed-tpday-due-to-strike-by-staff-over-london-living-wage/21772

If you need a second option, Will ( you met him on Saturday...my best man) is having a house in Catford rebuilt at the moment and has found some good people. Let me know if you need deets and I'll hit him up.

no doubt we'll want some other stuff doing sooner or later so if anyone comes recommended it's always useful to know!

then i wouldn't recommend going there to catch a movie today.

http://www.brixtonblog.com/ritzy-cinema-closed-tpday-due-to-strike-by-staff-over-london-living-wage/21772

Fair play to the staff for standing up to their employer.

Hi, can someone recommend a good solicitor. My friend is buying a flat and I can't recommend mine as it was crap. Thanks

Martin Browne - Gisby Harrison

He's helped at least 6 people from the forum, including me.

So my flat sale is moving along, and is looking to complete first week in March.
I am back in london this weekend to empty the flat of the furniture, so it is all ready to go when things complete. I have just noticed in the corner of the bedroom (area that was under the bed) the floorboards have noticeably warped, and there is a small damp patch at the bottom of the wall in the corner. It's a basement flat (converted three years ago, so everything is quite new), so I'm assuming this is caused by rising damp?
It doesn't appear to be a huge problem, but if i had just bought the place and moved in to find this, I'd be quite pissed.

I dont think the buyer has had a survey done.

Question is this, does the buyer have any legal grounds to make me pay for repair work/claim compensation from me after we have completed? I have signed a document that said I'm not aware of any outstanding roof leakage, or pipe leakage or drainage issues.... but thats about it....? Is this something I should be worried about?

This is my first sale, so advice is appreciated.

i would think not. this is why people have surveys done.

thanks soul

So my flat sale is moving along, and is looking to complete first week in March.

I have just noticed in the corner of the bedroom (area that was under the bed) the floorboards have noticeably warped, and there is a small damp patch at the bottom of the wall in the corner. It's a basement flat

I dont think the buyer has had a survey done..

First week of May?

Is your buyer a cash buyer? If not a surveyor will have to visit the flat for the mortgage company and even the most basic valuation survey will probably pick up the warped boards.

If you're sure a surveyor hasn't been yet, check with your agent whether the buyer is sending one. If not, or they've already been and missed it, it's down to your conscience whether you do owt, it's very much the buyer's job to check these things, you have no legal obligation.

If the conversion is recent and good there may be a damp guarantee in your paperwork, they're often 25 years.

If there's no guarantee and a surveyor will be coming get yourself a couple of opinions and written quotes now, in advance. That way if it's spotted you are already ahead of the negotiations.

Do the right thing and tell them. This isn't a game, it's people's homes and life savings. You'll figure it out between you and feel happy rather than carrying a nagging guilt.

thanks for the advice guys... they are a cash buyer. So no mortgage survey.
Am going to speak to my solicitor on Monday morning, let him know what I've found, and see what he advises.

There's a cinema in Beckenham. And a fishing shop (although it's virtually in Penge).

But no gun shop.

Isn't there a cheesecake shop too? Reward for climbing Sydenham Hill to get there.

the management company of the new place I have bought want £144 to acknowledge that I am new owner. If I dont cough up apparently this has implications that I cant get on the building insurance. I obviously dont want to pay it! does anyone have any experience of this?

Can't you just get acknowledgement from the land registry?

This isn't a game, it's people's second homes and life savings buy-to-let investments.

FTFY

Do the right thing and tell them.

Caveat emptor.

the management company of the new place I have bought want £144 to acknowledge that I am new owner. If I dont cough up apparently this has implications that I cant get on the building insurance. I obviously dont want to pay it! does anyone have any experience of this?

you'll have to pay them a fee for this (whether 144 notes is reasonable is another matter)

I paid 50 quid for them to register me as the owner and 50 quid for them to register my mortgage on their paperwork (thats a fee you'll have to pay everytime you remortgage too btw)

if you dont like getting shafted for fees - you shouldnt have gone for a flat! £144 as a fee for both registration of you as the new owner and your mortgage (if you have one) is reasonable if that figure includes VAT. Its still a con and I say its reasonable in so far as that the LTV would say its reasonable and you have little chance of reducing it.....

The reasonableness of an administration fee provided for in the lease which is solely for registration is not capable of assessment by the LVT (now the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)) since it falls outside the scope of Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 - Proxima GR Properties Ltd v. McGhee [2014] UKUT 0059 (LC). Provided the lease requires you to pay it, you have to pay it.