Owning your own home

We certainly hope so. Makes no sense otherwise, but the developer is obv trying its hardest to not bear the cost, and will drag it out as much as they can as a result.

Well, ah. If it passed building control and the building regs and the NHBC thought it was OK...you might be in for a long wait.

Or not. Who knows.

Legally, the leaseholders should cough up for it and they probably should then go after the developer in court, after acquiring the freehold.

Sure, but if I’m a cash speculator I don’t care about any of that as I won’t be living in it.

I think the bigger issue is that it’s probably uninsurable, so I’d it does burn down whilst you are waiting for it to get fixed, you are stuffed.

Although actually that’s sometimes the freeholder’s responsibility, but then you just have a claim against an otherwise empty SPV most probably.

Sure, but if I’m a cash speculator I don’t care about any of that as I won’t be living in it.

Yes, that's right, and it's pretty much the only circumstance under which one of these places can be sold.

Buildings insurance is the freeholders responsibility. I assume they've had to put some kind of special measure in place to even get a policy that they might be able to claim on in the event of something going wrong.

we've had a quote to do our garden from a landscaper. the price does not include VAT because 'they are not VAT registered'. Is this legit - possibly if a business falls below a certain threshold they are exempt. Presumably we'll have shit all legal recourse if things go titsies? presumably he's also going to want a wodge of notes up front and i'm gonna want a receipt...

Tempted to tell him to do one regardless. that said, all 4 quotes we've received have no VAT included.

Pay your fucking taxes.

Probably legit if it’s a small business, worst ones quote ‘+VAT’, don’t split it on the invoice and insist on cash.

sounds a bit iffy but ok then. the trigger will be pulled.

https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration-thresholds

Makes quotes more competitive for small setups but means they can’t claim VAT back on purchasing materials/tools/etc

cheers for that. i am suitably assuaged.

The VAT threshold is £85,000

If your turnover is below that, you don't need to charge or pay VAT

[Edit] ^^ that

good to know. i was struggling with the prospect of having to hammer sausages into my own lawn.

And the costs of those special measures are going straight back to the leaseholders. That would be a bit of a kick in the nuts on top of the wider fire safety issue.

Ta. Will pass this info on. I think she didn't used whatever the gov scheme was called at the time when she purchased though, just a regular mortgage.

Have a think about how much they're charging you and how long it will take. Multiply that out to a year's work and see how it compares to the VAT threshold. If it's way over then it may be somewhat dubious (or maybe they don't work during winter, you can always ask).

Legal recourse is the same regardless, obviously get a receipt. Past few people I've dealt with (tiler, decorator) haven't been VAT registered but still paid them by bank transfer for a little more comfort.

top tips. thanks chaps!

If you're a one man band or small firm, especially in a seasonal job it would be unusual to have a turnover above the VAT threshold. Trades that supply a lot of expensive materials tend to be VAT registered but most people would be surprised at the tiny turnover the rest of us are working with.

how are solicitors SO FUCKING USELESS

What's happened, petal?

emailing the wrong people, dropping people off CC, sending emails 'see attached' with no attachments then not responding for 24 hours after chasing up.. honestly thats just getting started

all of that is very standard, reply them with 'Stop being such a boomer®'

because they get paid regardless.

feel like im going round in circles

its that time. Is there a forum approved packer & mover for SE London? Need it on Friday.

Rocket Van.
Pricey, I think. But I liked them.

Maybe im mistaken, but would like advice, I thought that these 2 things would be the solicitors responsibility to find out for us for sure, but our solicitors keep saying things along the lines of 'you'd be best going to the freeholder and finding out yourselves'

1. our homebuyers survey noted that the guttering could do with seals replacing and cleaning and moss cleaning off the roof
   -- they are saying we could ask the vendor to get this done, because they 'think' the lease suggests that the exterior of the property is our responsibility, but cannot actually give us a solid answer on where the line is drawn, i.e if guttering and moss on roof are our problem, is the roof caving in our problem too?

2. lease says "Not to keep any animal bird or reptile in the flat which the council considers to be dangerous injurious to health or a nuisance"
   -- solicitors have told us "There is a restriction against keeping pets on the property. I would recommend that if you intend to keep a pet, you obtain consent from the Landlord before exchange of contracts." we don't see these 2 as related, and again i would have thought that it was there responsibility to find out whether a house cat isn't allowed in the lease

I have no idea about whose responsibility it is, but 3 seems to be specifically animals which the council considers to be dangerous injurious to health or a nuisance and I doubt cats are on that list.