Owning your own home

That's developers giving people open plan living by taking away a seperate kitchen and giving them a kitchen diner.
If avoid new builds we have the worst space per home of any European country, best bet if you can is ex council property, or Victorian conversion, depending on how much you can afford.

If your light doesn't require an earth connection (class 2) and your plug has a fuse matched to the maximum loading of the cable (3 or 5 amps) then your house will probably not burn down.

Rive can probably tell whether it's 3 or 5 amp max for that cable.

I'd avoid new builds, we have the worst space per home of any European country, best bet if you can is ex council property, or Victorian conversion, depending on how much you can afford.

Yeah, new builds are an option only because of the first time buyers Help-to-Buy mortgages that guarantee the govt' will underwrite 40% allowing us to borrow up to 95%.

We don't have family we can call upon, assets we can sell that would make a difference, inheritance coming to us, nothing.

So far we've saved £20k, and saving is going well, but we're hoping to move sooner rather than later. Sooner means new build, as later means "add years to reach enough deposit".

Beware of recent news stories about the help-to-buy mortgages, making it clear that you can't use the subsidy for your deposit, only for post completion expenses.

A total cock up.

Beware of recent news stories about the help-to-buy mortgages, making it clear that you can't use the subsidy for your deposit, only for post completion expenses.

A total cock up.

I thought that was the FTB ISA's?

If the lamp doesn't state class then it may have the double-insulated symbol. I can't imagine you're likely to pull much current through a bed side lamp. 60w max = 0.25a.

Are you sure? Help to buy mortgage is available on any age building. There are variations which involve the government lending you 40% but if you have 5% you can do standard help to buy.

Oops. Yes that was it. As you were.

I was sure. I'd read it on the official web site. I'll check again.

Or do people honestly want a home with a single combined living/dining/kitchen space and then the tiniest of bedrooms?

The combined kitchen / living things is pretty good. It's the stupid small crappy bedrooms that need to die.

But yea, avoid (cheap) new builds. They suck, and the people who move in to them suck, too.

New build is so nice, plumbing is all new, walls are all new, everything is unused, it's too good to miss...

This is what the estate agent told me last time when he was hard selling a new build that is overpriced and tiny.

Sorry been away.

It would not be my personal preference to use it for a frequently handled plug in application

It would be acceptable for a generally out of reach low frequency of handling application, such as between a ceiling rose and lamp holder

Must only be used in double insulated (class 2) applications

New build is so nice, plumbing is all new, walls are all new, everything is unused, it's too good to miss...

This is what the estate agent told me last time when he was hard selling a new build that is overpriced and tiny.

Always ask them if and when the 'Snagging' teams will be back for all the faults that appear as soon as you move in...

New build is so nice, plumbing is all untested, walls are all untested and made of paper, everything is from the lowest bidder, it's too good to miss...

Friend of mine just had a period of 2-3 months where every single appliance that came with the flat died. Can't remember if she said it's 5 or 7 years old but buying a new boiler, oven, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge and freezer all in pretty much one hit is ridiculous!

I think she said a load of cupboard doors fell off too, just to add insult to injury.

Yap, and more expensive too.

What should I be using instead? I want this style of cable but obviously want it to be safe and correct

for applications requiring a plug and so better abrasion resistance and more secure clamping into the plug cable clamp, while retaining the fabric aesthetic, look at these HO3VVF compliant round double insulated fabric covered cables here > http://www.creative-cables.co.uk/5-fabric-cables

Cheers guv!

So Forest Hill flat sold. Few tears on moving out. *takes a moment

Currently living out of a suitcase with wife and baby all squeezed into in-law's suburban terrace and trying to do anything humanly possible to hurry along the purchase of our new gaff.

Issues which have come up from the surveys and searches are no planning permission for a small single story extension at the rear (we think it fell within PD and am awaiting confirmation).

Second issue is no record of building regs sign off for removed interior supporting walls and chimney breasts. The renovation is obviously a quality job and the sellers have confirmed that architects were employed, steels put in and all works was signed off by a structural engineer. My question is; if this is all in evidence, do we NEED building regs sign off? What's the quickest way to get this closed out. To reiterate THREE OF US ARE LIVING IN MY WIFE'S CHILDHOOD BEDROOM AND NEED THIS TO HURRY UP.

Finally, what would have been the back door from the upper ground floor hallway out to steps down to the lower-ground level back garden; is now a door out onto the flat roof of a rear extension. This flat roof needs railings put round it to meet regs. Trying to get an answer out of the seller as to whether they will fit, knock money off to have us do it or whatever. Just want it closed out.

Other than that... looking good.

"My question is; if this is all in evidence, do we NEED building regs sign off"

Sounds stressful. A question for your solicitor but I'd have thought 'yes'. We couldn't complete on ours a couple of years back before the seller retrospectively got sign off for an extension they'd done (and not got inspected). We also got builders in to complete some other stuff for the same sign off without which it would have failed (fire proofing and a couple of other things). It was horrible.

If nothing else, maybe the sellers are not telling the truth about architects / engineers?

Hmmm. Yeah. Suppose so.

I believe they've submitted a shedload of supporting docs to the solicitors but they either don't have the expertise or haven't had time to review them all properly yet. Was hoping that if I could get acceptance in theory we could get contracts signed to exchange pending formal confirmation.

Would have thought your mortgage provider would want to see proof of building regs before it lends you money.

is building control approval searchable online? EDIT: Doesn't seem to be. Am loathe to contact the local BC in case I open up a can of worms...

Was hoping that if I could get acceptance in theory we could get contracts signed to exchange pending formal confirmation

I really hope I'm not misleading you, but I think you should be able to exchange. I remember we exchanged, but with an 'understanding' (clause? undertaking? whatever the lawyer speak is) that the sign offs be done by completion.

Edit: it was still us that had to get them done rather than the owner, as they were muppets, but it got us a bit further down the road...