Owning your own home

This isn't going to save any pennies (the opposite) but Neo windows are much nicer than Velux. Our architect recently introduced us to them.

We'd be on track to fit one if our upstairs neighbours would just sign off on our plans instead of objecting to things which don't affect them :/

It's not just Lewisham, it's everywhere. Juliet balcony is the best you're going to get. Soz.

On the side that we aren't going (or will probably be going - we're yet to get an architect in) full dormer, I have my eye on a Velux Cabrio.

Alternatively, as we're end of terrace, with no buildings around, I was thinking of something big, glassy and expansive (and no doubt expensive) - I guess the Neo stuff could fit the bill.

They have basically said

We will reject it for visual impact if you have privacy screens.
We will reject it for overlooking if you don't.

They were pretty clear in saying they don't want roof terrace type developments anywhere in Lewisham, and permitting us would be precedent.>

Seems pretty reasonable from their point of view, unfortunately for you. The scrapyard next door is irrelevant as it already has established use and besides your proposals have no relevance to the scrapheap. Now if you were proposing to erect a privacy screen in front of the scrapyard...

Not sure an appeal will get you anywhere if I'm honest unless either you can demonstrate precedent in the area, always worth searching the planning records.

I've seen snazzy glass Juliet balconys.

I noticed before buying a flat on famous Harringay's famous ladder that there were no roof terraces to be seen on satellite photos.

The 'overlooking' thing is bollocks in my opinion. I can see plenty of my neighbour's gardens from my kitchen window anyway, and if you own the freehold on a property there's no need for planning permission to put a dormer on the rear elevation which would give you an even better view.

Exactly, @brun.

In fact, because of the acute angle down I can actually see less from ontop of my flat roof then I can see from my kitchen windows.

Plenty of roof terraces in West London though.

We had ours re-done two years ago (it had been done by previous owners but in an arse about face fashion, retaining the original roof line and installing a space saver staircase half way into the second bedroom).

We wanted a full width of the house dormer window put in, which turned out really well, with double doors installed, making it a light and airy space which we really love.

I'm not sure I'd recommend the company we got to do it as the plumber they used put the toilet waste pipe into the wrong pipe, meaning it wasn't connected to the drains. They were swift to rectify the problem when we identified it six months later, but wouldn't you check if there was any uncertainty about which downpipe was connected to the sewer? There was as we said we didn't know if either of them were.

This is interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0mcFp7EywU

Possibly the dumbest ever comment beneath.

Cheers Andy

We have an indoor person lined up (for studwork, plastering, tiling, plumbing etc...) - he's done a lot of work here before, and always left things in a pretty reasonable state.

We're a little wary, though, based on next door's horror story of the past year or so.

In fact, because of the acute angle down I can actually see less from ontop of my flat roof then I can see from my kitchen windows.

What about the views to neighbouring windows?

Draw a massive spunking dick on the wall. See how they like that for visual impact.

Pop a roof on it. And some folding doors on the back with a glass Juliet balcony, as suggested.

Same.
From my kitchen window I can see directly into their kitchen.
From my bathroom window I can see directly into their bathroom.

From the rooftop I can see neither, no matter how hard I try.

Windows looking directly into another property should have frosted glass or similar, especially for bathrooms. If you remove a window which is frosted and replace it with a plain one, you've broken the planning rules and your neighbour can complain to the local authority who can make you replace it.

So who's in the wrong? ;)

So all the new underfloor plumbing is now complete, the floor is now level, and the waterproof membrane applied. Underfloor heating being put down today, and then the tiler starts tomorrow, apparently. Getting there.

Still have an entire bathroom in my dining room, and no bathroom in my bathroom though.

OK, hivemind, we just had a brainfart and put in an offer on a place. It's not cheap, but we've both sold places, so can put down at least 50%.

We haven't had to get a mortgage in donkeys' years, and are aware that it's harder to get a mortgage these days, and there may be more hoops to jump through and reasons you can be refused. Without wanting to read through 300 pages to find out, is there anything we really need to know or consider before seeing the mortgage broker?

If you're both employed then with 50% deposit you shouldn't have a problem. You should have no no problems looking for 4 times combined salary, maybe even 4.5 times.

If one or both of you aren't employed (e.g. self employed, contracting, etc) then expect more difficulty.

Hmm, thanks for that - gf has just started a one year contract, but they're looking to make her permanent, and it's a business where there's very little chance of her ever being unemployed. May depend on how reasonable they are in looking at non-full timers.

If 4 x your salary alone covers the loan (or very close to it) you should be ok.

I've done all mortgage and remortgaging through an IFA. They seem to know best how to work the system (and all of the recent changes).

Our lass is a sole trader and was required to have three years worth of books rubber stamped by an certified accountant.

The wheels were greased by my old man though, who as an IFA did all the leg work.

We shouldn't be too far off, will see the advisor tonight and see how it goes. As long as it doesn't get to the stage of having to sell any more bikes...

Getting a reasonably priced mortgage is proving difficult for me. Stress-testing applicants against a swing of 6% is an absolute joke.

New mortgage reforms look like another way to move wealth from the poor to the rich.

Does six percent seem that impossible? It seems like a plausible increase over the life of a mortgage (or at least, not an unprecedented one).

Did you speak to the planners before hand?