Owning your own home

You'll never take me alive!!!

At least, not alive and smiling!!!

At least, not alive and smiling and sober!!!

But....but stamp duty?

Rent it out and live somewhere else?

it's not London, was cheap, no stamp duty. Phewf.

Wow

was cheap

In West Didsbury???

Terraced house off Burton Road I bought with my ex would be valued at 2x-3x an equivalent house in a nice bit of Bolton, even though it's arguable that Bolton has better transport links, more green space and easier access to the countryside.

Flat. No housey housey.

I'm selling a flat in a Victorian house. The buyer is asking for a Fire Risk Assessment and Asbestos Survey. Is this reasonable/normal? If so, anyone got any recommendations for a (budget) specialist?

It's required for communal spaces (normally just the hallway in a Victorian conversion) by law and the absence of a Fire and Asbestos Report could void building insurance.

Is that what they're asking for? It may now be required full stop if the law has changed since I bought.

Yes, they're asking for a fire risk assessment and asbestos survey. From what i can work out this legally only needs to be carried out for the common areas (i.e. 4metre square hallway); although they haven't clarified specifically if they want it for the entire flat as well.

Do you know who carried out your survey when you bought?

If it’s common areas only the Freeholder and management co. should supply that?

Ah, yes, I should have said that I am the shared freeholder. Therefore it's up to me to provide this, if it's needed. It's just two flats in a house, and the shared area is the tiny hallway.

She's been turfed off the board AFAIK

http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/eye-newsflash-sarah-beeny-no-longer-director-of-online-agency-tepilo/

After a very stressful six months with four properties falling through. Exchanged close of play yesterday and get keys on Monday.

Can't wait to get a shed and have a garden.

Do you know who carried out your survey when you bought?

Contego Services Limited. Chosen by the vendor, I suspect on the basis of them being cheap.

Yes that's my understanding - just for the common areas but even though it's a tiny hallway you are legally obliged to provide it (by the Health and Safety at Work Act funnily enough).

Cheers. Have asked them for a quote.

Gah, offer accepted end of Jan, month or so of all the mortgage/legal paperwork, lender sent surveyor out last week, lender declined to loan against flat due to type of construction.

Foxtons have gone to ground since, and the one time I managed to get hold of the estate agent she didn't seem at all surprised. I bet they knew well all along and were throwing shit at the wall in the hope some if it eventually sticks.

So here were are, mortgage approved pending property survey, legal stuff (anti money laundering) sorted, but all on hold while we start the search again.

Viewed 9 flats before the rugby yesterday. Still haven't recovered.

What's wrong with the construction? Maybe another lender?

Private 50's block made of large slabs of concrete. Apparently they're strengthened with steel which degrades and leaves air pockets in concrete.

We've gone with Natwest who are most lenient on property. Broker said we can look at other lenders but chances are the rates would be a lot higher.

Ultimately this won't be a forever home and if it's this hard for us to get a mortgage now, how hard would it be to sell in 5 years time? And how hard would it be to let a flat in blackheath.

With all that in mind we've revisited our search criteria and are now looking in SE1.

Recommendations for slim Aluminium window frames including fitting them in London area?

now looking in SE1

ooh fancy!

We’re getting Velfac - the slimmest looking ones I could find. Fitted by one of their approved joiners. Only just paid the deposit though so no idea I’d they’re any good...

Congrats! You stay in the area?

Thanks. Be good to hear how it goes. Was one of the ones we were looking at. You looking for a modern finish or for a more traditional house? If you don’t mind me asking how much was it? We have a three bed with two bay windows at front.

Ours is a Victorian terrace maisonette with an 80s extension out the back. The plan is Velfac in the back part and timber double glazed sash in the front. Their pricing was kind of mad. The sales rep got the square meterage wrong the first time around, but offered a grand discount if we paid the deposit within a week. When I pointed it out another few grand disappeared off the total. They appear to just make it up, but we’re getting 6 pretty big windows for £4k in the end which seems good. They’ll give you a quote if you email with sizes.

I also had to catch their incorrect addition of trickle vents on everything.

Sure it’ll be fine when they turn up in 9 weeks... 🤞

Great. Thanks for that. We bought a house thinking windows were the last thing we really needed-horrible pvc ones- that got broken into almost immediately. So looking to improve/security straight away. Are you getting them or their approved fitters to fit them?