Owning your own home

I suspect he will still be getting them from the same factory in China where everyone else sources them from.

Solicitor - I had a very good experience. Let me know if you'd like the details.

Not sure. I'd probably have to account for the big wodge of cash landing in my account somehow... Neither of us mind paying what's due when it comes to tax.

I just got a quote from a local company for 1k... think most will be quite similar as they all come from China (the shutters, not the companies supplying) so same costs.
I'm seeing if this place come out bout the same for original real proper good honest hard working British wood shutters.. https://periodprojects.co.uk/

Aye.

My guy was proud to source his material from Wickford, at that price though I would prefer the Chinese stuff. I did ask of the benefits of real wood > MDF but he failed to provide a decent argument. Wood is lighter but with the right fittings that shouldn't matter.

I was anticipating circa £1k, hopefully I can get cheaper in the Hillary's Jan sales or something

HMRC guidance is here for SDLT

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sdlt-transferring-ownership-of-land-or-property#if-you-marry-enter-into-a-civil-partnership-or-set-up-home-together

The main thing that isn't obvious is if she is taking over some of the mortgage that is still a payment (it's just the cash part has been deferred).

Oops, think that should have @Sparky

MPRM quoted us for an extension that we were.umming and ahhing about and it was eye watering... But yes. They are a decent outfit, nice to deal with and do quality eork from what I see.

PM me for the inside on LoftLife

Yes, I think for me everything went up pretty quickly (it's amazing how quick they get those stairs in) to start and then it slowed down a bit towards the end. I think part of the issue is that the end stage is using more outside trades rather than all the carpentry, etc.

We didn't have any particularly large delays but we went with the same idea of listing out what needed doing and tying DJ down to that. Their admin side is pretty good so we could refer back to that when there was anything that needed doing and they knew what we were talking about.

Lease extension with a short lease and a problem freeholder - talk to me, any recommendations on solicitors?

I would like to log the humidity level in a room, is there a smart hygrometer that anyone has used and can recommend?

google for bluetooth hygrometer

I'm playing around with a Raspberry Pi and some bits and bobs like this: http://www.sheepwalkelectronics.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=55 as I want to log temp/humid in a bunch of rooms in my flat (and outside), but I've been faffing around on this for years.

There will be an Arduino type solution too.

Sonoff. Cheap, cheerful, and you can use it to control something.

e.g. Have your dehumidifier turn on when the humidity rises too high.

I need to log humidity and temperature to prove to the managing agent that condensation from humidity is not causing the water leak that is coming through my ceiling and walls.

Won't the humidity be v high in the room with the leak? What's that going to prove? Or do you mean you'll measure other rooms as well to prove it's just in the leaky room.

A mate had a leak in his flat for two years. Drip drip drip from a corner. Building manager redid the roof twice, changed all the window seals etc etc. Finally it was discovered that someone had fitted a rubber seal around a vent pipe upside down.

Won't the humidity be v high in the room with the leak? What's that going to prove? Or do you mean you'll measure other rooms as well to prove it's just in the leaky room.

It's not even a drip - it's water forming patterns in the paintwork and woodwork, then the paint flakes off. I don't think it would contribute to humidity, but I was also intending on logging other rooms to act as a comparison.

If your selling her a chunk of the equity as an asset you may be liable for capital gains tax I think. From what you describe I don't think SDLT applies as it's not a new purchase. I'm probably wrong though.

No capital gains tax on transfers between spouses.

Are the sparkies married? Makes this stuff a lot simpler.

The only sure fire way to find out what is causing damp is to take the wall back to brick, unfortunately

Oh right yeah, good point.

Also no cap gains on disposal of your permanent residence - i.e. if Sparky is & mostly has been living there

Legal advice is pretty much a must though.

We’re not married, but this has been my home for five years.

What’s the benefit of what you are planning on doing?

Her money is in cash, slowly being hit by inflation. So it makes sense to pay it off the mortgage. It’d also be nice for us to have shared ownership. I’m sure she’d rather feel invested and more equal in the place.