Owning your own home

3 years I think.

I'd say enfranchisement is worth it if you can afford it and are organised. RTM can be a pain as you still have to deal with the freeholder, which is a problem if the relationship is already strained.

You mentioned a residents' association - remember that if this is "recognised" (in terms of s29 of the Landlord and Tenant Act) it can appoint a surveyor to look at members' service charges. You might have already done this but otherwise possibly worth raising.

Ah, yes that is true. I don't think I will be able to keep this place and then buy another. Not while still getting good rates anyway. Although if this Brexit shit keeps fucking the GBP I will soon be able to buy a new place using the chump change Aussie dollars I left in my account back home.

Definitely agree. I think the affording it is the key - one of the problems with where we are is that the Managing Agents have been chivvying every last little bit out of the residents - a S20 notice in 2015, there's another one due next year, and they're charging £200 a month Service Charge - and this year are asking for another £400 'balancing' fee on top. So the idea of paying more - even to get rid of them and the freeholder both - is a tough sell.

We're not yet recognised - we're having our second 'unofficial' meeting this Sunday but I'm going to propose becoming recognised then. Fingers crossed!

Remember the country needs money to run efficiently and we all need to do our bit as someone on here said.

Things like paying VAT on car maintenance you mean? ;)

Good luck. Sounds like an epic undertaking. Please keep us updated!

My accountant was barred from working again so I need a new one :)

Yeah our place would go super quick, selling or renting - it's mental around us.

Other side of the A40?! umadbro #herebedragons
I was actually thinking about Perivale, it's kinda quiet and because it's on the other side it's substantially cheaper than Ealing but then, every time I want to go to the pub or restaurant it's feckin' miles away, too far to walk.

So, I reckon stay in Ealing, move into the country (urgh brexit voters) or move country (mmm actual summers again...)

We're doing the 'move to the country' thing. I figure if enough people do it we can outbreed the brexit voters in a few generations.
#forwardplanning

If I don't open my mouth I could infiltrate their world. They'd never know I'm forrin scum...
I will take them down from the inside!

West London is weird. You are weird.

West London is best. You were right on the second point.

Really? I used to go there. Still do on the odd occasion but normally head in to Broadway which would be like a 45min+ walk from Perivale. Gurnell's almost Greenford isn't it or is that also Perivale?

I don't think I'd moved further away than I am now. I like being able to walk to the train station.

Completed this morning, gf should have picked up the keys by now. Goodbye freedom, hello crushing mortgage payments and never ending debt.

At least when you stop renting you're not paying someone else's mortgage, never lose sight of that.

Plus GOODBYE MAGNOLIA WALLS

Offer accepted! 😂🏆💯

Let's see what calamity will befall us before completion... 🍌

Good luck TS!

As expected the council are being shit about my party wall agreement. After 10 days and a number of emails and phone calls I'm still waiting for a response about who to send it to.

Not sure what the implications are if I start building without the agreement in place.

I thought you send the party wall agreement and if they fail to answer you can interpret that as acceptance. Not that it would allow you to damage their property and get away with it, just that you can get on with the work.

Front garden is getting there.

1 Attachment

Property owned by the council.

My reading was that if there's no reply in 14 days then it's been declined and you have to go with the full route. I'll double check though.

Edit: Yep
If, after a period of 14 days from the service of your notice, the person receiving the notice has done nothing, a dispute is deemed to have arisen - see paragraphs 12 to 19.

Original tiles, or did you source them yourself?

interesting.

how come there's just earth where the street should be?

Topps Tiles

That's the pavement - just the photo and where's it's wet!

The upturned tiles are to stop anyone treading on the border which is still setting

Looking great @Tenderloin