Owning your own home

The alu ones would be at the back, for the 80s extension, wood sash double glazed on the front. Durable Windows are happy to fit Velfac windows. Sent an email out to loads of different companies today so we'll see how the prices compare.

Anyone have experience of extending by adding an extra storey on top of a flat roof?

I know I'll need planning, but wondering about what stage to instruct architects if I go ahead - it all seems quite chicken and egg in terms of spending money before I can find out if it is feasible (and only later on will I find out if I can afford it).

Also any recommendations for good architects would be appreciated. I'm in Forest Hill so local would be good, and the house is quite modern so extension could be as well.

First wee in the new house. I call that moved in.

Thanks - lots of extending nearby but from a walk around, it seems nearly all is on pitched roof houses, although some are quite noticeable (big boxes bolted on).

I will have a think about what I can get scribbled on a piece of paper for a pre-planning meeting; I think more prep might help so I can demonstrate I don't want to build a towering monstrosity... will let you know if I need the architect, cheers! I have also learnt that googling Porka Vulva produces "interesting" results

if only we were so rowdy

Congrats!

I'm Forest Hill SE23 and would be building on top of a weird little detached flat roof thing - it's quite a square little house so reckon it would need some careful thought to make it look good.

First wee in the new house. I call that moved in.

No. First smelly shit.

Anyone can wee in a house. It's really yours when you don't have to worry about serious dump smell.

I am.

But it's my house.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice on Shared Ownership. I haven't ruled it out, but I'm now wary enough that I'm only going to consider it if it gets me a 2-bed in a fantastic location.

The other avenue I'm exploring is full ownership of a 1-bed - which, as I mentioned, involves going further South or East (from Streatham, where I currently rent).

Might be able to maintain a similar distance from Zone 1 by venturing into Forest Hill/ Sydenham/Perry Vale type area.

Got a viewing tomorrow night in Forest Hill - fingers crossed the flat isn't shit! Or at least within an acceptable shitness tolerance!

I'm currently planning a loft conversion. It seems I'm going to have to have smoke alarms added to the existing flat to make it comply with current regulations (none of the doors I currently have are fire doors).

The plan I've got back from the architect shows a smoke alarm in every single room bar the bathroom (heat detector in kitchen). This means that a three bed flat has something like 8 or 9 smoke alarms which seems excessive.

I had a look at the regulations and it was a bit unclear exactly what was required. I suspect the requirement would be "LD2 - A system incorporating detectors in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all rooms or areas that present a high risk of fire to occupants" but I'm not sure what rooms or areas that present a high risk of fire to occupants would be defined as. Every single room seems excessive.

Wiring in a load of mains-powered smoke alarms seems like a lot of work for a fairly small flat (it will be under 1,000 sqft after the loft conversion).

Anyone know what the position with this should be?

No idea about flats, but in our three story house (which means fire regs are tightened) we have to have one in each thoroughfare and one next to each source of heat. So we have 5, 3 in each hallway\landing, heat detector in kitchen and one in front of the log burner. I would def question, as does seem excessive to me.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a roofer who will cover the Bromley area?
A mate of mine has been left in the shit by two sets of cowboys.

In those kind of circumstances I would look at CheckaTrade for the area and stick to someone with good feedback. Problem I've encountered with roofers at this time of year is some of them get work on schools during the school holidays plus their own holiday schedule so they're not that reliable during July/August.

Funny game roofing. If you find a good one look after them.

I've just spoken to him and the architect reckons that the choice is to replace the doors with fire retardant doors or stick smoke alarms in each room.

However, only the landings need to have mains-powered alarms, the ones in the other rooms can be battery powered so not quite as concerning although still sounds a bit excessive.

What questions should I ask when viewing a flat? What do I need to look out for? How do I avoid looking like a complete numpty?

You don't have to ask any. Make sure you have the hard facts

• remaining lease
  
• service charge
  
• who is the freeholder
  
• tenure - is it mixed
  
• when the last time major works took place
  
  
  

Save your questions for the second viewing - if the place qualifies

It's really up to you to do some sleuthing if you like a place, visiting at different times of day, talking to neighbours etc

Lightweight smoke detector guidelines:
• Position in circulation areas on every floor of the dwelling – positioned between the sleeping spaces and places where a fire is likely to start e.g. living room/kitchen and yet close enough to the bedroom doors to effectively wake sleeping occupants.
• Smoke detectors should be positioned so that there is one within 7.5m of every habitable room door and a minimum of one detector in every storey of the dwelling.
• In a single storey 2/3 bedroom dwelling, a single smoke detector may be adequate if sited in the main circulation areas. In a typical two storey dwelling smoke detectors should be installed both at ground and landing levels. Therefore at least two smoke alarms will be required.
• If your kitchen is not separated from the stairways or circulation routes by a suitable door, then you must also install a compatible heat detector in the kitchen, interlinked with the other smoke detectors positioned as above in the circulation routes.
• All heat and smoke detectors are to be interlinked so all operate an alarm if one is triggered.
• Smoke detectors should not be fixed directly above heaters, air conditioning units, ducted heat outlets or in bathrooms, showers, cooking areas or garages, where steam, condensation or fumes could cause false alarms to occur.
• Mains powered, battery backup.

Our fire strategy (new build) required Automist sprinklers downstairs too (3 stories with open plan stairs on ground floor), if you're lacking fire doors then I'd err on the side of caution.

@Howard @diable Thanks both. Should I be worried about multiple price drops since the place was listed?

Should I be worried about multiple price drops since the place was listed?

The reason should be obvious when you visit, or it might be that the place was simply overpriced when it was originally listed.

The first viewing is to get a feel for a place, see if it is somewhere you could see yourself living. You don't have to get all the answers now. The market is a bit slow at the mo, so don't feel rushed or pressured.

Saw a two bed 'lower ground floor' flat in Streatham listed the other day. Didn't take long to work out why it's had 7 or 8 price drops since its initial listing earlier this year.

Suspicious lack of windows in the pictures...

Link pls!

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/42679544

Says lower ground floor on the plan with a staircase assuming to go from ground to lower .. that could explain the lack of windows.

Just buy @Sparky 's flat.

Disgusting isn't it, shouldn't be allowed that