Owning your own home

We used TWM in Wimbledon town centre near the police station, they were fine

Home insurance between exchange and completion question. It's looking like we are going to have a moderately long time between the two, approx 6 weeks. What kind of policy should I be looking for here, is there a special temporary coverage policy that can cover this phase? Or do I just go for the full building + contents policy we will be going for anyway once we do move in? Is that even possible as we won't be the occupiers for the first 6 weeks?

Don't most people arrange buildings ins to start from exchange, and contents ins to start from completion?

Unless its significantly cheaper for you to get a combined policy?

Yeah had a full survey which was fine. On the surface at least it looks like a decet job has been done. The guy is a QS for a large construction company so you would expect he'd get it done properly, which makes it all the more puzzling that they haven't provided it... The surveyor is of the opinion the rooms are not habitable without signoff which will obviously have a big impact on price. The solicitor is more pragmatic and takes the view if it's still standing and appears sound, it probably is.

Same situation, just got building and contents as a combined policy from exchange

Has anyone ever dug a cellar/basement? Costs? Lunacy?

Same here!

We're bouncing from one extreme to the other. Walk away or see it through with price reductions... Unfortunately it appears the couple are splitting up and it's the wife that has been left to deal with all this. The husband doesn't seem to be assisting in anyway so getting answers to anything has been a bit slow and tortuous.

How many bodies?

3 (Stored vertically). And access for me to walk down there and carry tools around.

So basically a normal cellar and just disregard the fact that I'll be using it as a makeshift morgue.

Correct me if i'm wrong but you don't always necessarily need building control sign off. They could've used a contractor who is registered with a thing called the competent person scheme. Do some research and see? It could be waffle mind but I've known a few people do the same thing in the past.

The most expensive way to add space to a property.

Wouldn't recommend it. Costs of ensuring structural stability will be very high. Most basements/cellars have ongoing issue with damp that'll also cost a fair bit to sort. Why not build a high quality (robust) shed/outhouse?

Because I genuinely like the idea of a musty old underground room to store shit in
:/

to store shit in

Surely
https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/d10/Drain+Rods+%26+Plungers/sd2916/Drain+Rod+Set/p44934
is cheaper than excavating a cellar?

It's expensive and alot of builders don't know why they are doing. Drainage and pumping system with the right membranes are vital in our damp little island. Potential problems of bad job don't bare thinking about.
Loft conversion is a far better plan. If possible.

Just used this firm to damp proof my coal cellar, small job took about 8 days. Slab on floor +dampproof chipboard. Newton 500 cavity membrane on floor and walls + plasterboarded + Newton titan pump http://www.apgoochbasementwaterproofing.co.uk/. They know what theyre doing, lots of pics in their gallery

Am now thinking about a bunker in the garden :/

I think I read about a guy that seam welded a rust proofed a shipping container and buried it.
Had a bit of a war shelter vibe about it.

The video is a bit shouty, but if you've got a garden big enough for a container...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UKNajCgpEs

If anyone wants a cellar dug out, please contact me for party wall services.

I am saving for a new speedboat...

The surveyor is of the opinion the rooms are not habitable without signoff

The regs are on ceiling height, height above the stairs, fire doors and mains' powered smoke alarms. Without the certificate I don't think the property can be advertised as having an extra bedroom. It's just a boarded-out attic.

Yeah I'm coming round to that point of view as well. We've given them till tomorrow afternoon to sort themselves out and confirm one way or another.

Bosh. Completed.

Not directly, but our childminder has a cellar converted. The whole experience has put me off ever doing it.