Owning your own home

So he built it to specification and the neighbour didn't and got away with it?

I really don't think your brother can sue the council over that.

So one person adheres to building regs and another person doesn't - who's negligent?

I'm just about to turn my whole life upside-down for months and put myself through the unique hell of completely rebuilding my whole flat.
I've got some very good builders on board, and it's a "structurally complex" project with a high standard of finish (removal of load-bearing walls, stripping existing walls back to bare brick, complete re-wiring and re-plumbing, underfloor heating, polished screed floors, all new doors and windows, complete kitchen and bathroom.......)
It's basically taking the whole flat back to bare walls, sorting out a bit of damp, and then bringing the whole thing into the 21st century.
But, being quoted £2500 per square metre made my eyes water a bit. Lucky it's a bloody small flat!

shudders

@Bad_Science - And you're starting this before Christmas?

I'm not that stupid. It won't really affect me until mid-February (apart from the sound of Kango hammers through the wall.)

They've started on the bit next door. Once it's up to first floor they can knock through and start in my bit. It's a strange project where I'm piggybacking my rebuild onto a demolition and new-build on an adjacent site.

Like I said, it's structurally complex....

So one person adheres to building regs and another person doesn't - who's negligent?

Never use a local authority building inspector. Approved inspectors are easily worth the extra expense.

Sounds fascinating. Seriously.

I'll have to tell him that.

So one person adheres to building regs and another person doesn't - who's negligent?

The person who didn't adhere?

As mentioned it's a case by case basis. Basing a legal case on 'well they didn't do that' isn't going to get your brother anywhere apart from lawyer fees.

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you've bought / sold a castles?

Not really, it just depends on the local authority and the inspector. Also probably the best approved inspectors I've worked with have been local authority with their approved hat on (ie. working as an approved inspector in a different borough).
( @b&d )

I'm calling BS. Castles aren't even slightly efficient. Thick stone walls with no cavity to insulate, high ceilings, no glass in the windows. I don't think keanu even ever had one, the bills on mine are sky high.

I sent an email to a solicitor this morning. Got this automated reply:

Thank you for your e-mail. It is now in the process of being printed and provided to the appropriate person by the end of the next working day

Such efficient.
Many customer service.
So modern communication methods.

I got the automated reply 3 times though, so that's good.

I'm interested to know why.

Holy cow

Contract signed and completion date proposed. The council have said they will do everything they can to ensure we exchange tomorrow. Shit. The. Bed.

Amazing news! Congrats. Glad it finally got sorted.

Yeah seems the delay was them figuring out ways they can wriggle out of paying us any of the reasonable moving costs they offered in the original deal. Typical council. We've ended up with getting less than they said they'd give us but hey we got something out of them so it's not a complete kick in the teeth.

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How long, in your experience, would a reference check for a prospective tenant take, presuming everything is fine to begin with.

#howlongisapieceofstring

A couple of hours if the reference company can get hold of the employer and previous landlord quickly. An infinite amount of time if they never do.

To speed it up forewarn the above and if they don't react quickly then nag them.

When did the process start?

If it started today, then you should realistically see things sorted by Friday at the earliest. Maybe it'll be a little slower this time of year, but things should be dealt with by close of play Monday.

I start a new job on the outskirts of Cambridge in January. Extremely annoyed to find that property prices are as bad - if not worse - than south-east London. BALLS.

The rest of life will cost a little less though, no?