Owning your own home

The flat is also empty so it’s nice to know that agents are going round checking no water / gas leaks.

Yep a couple of threads on Reddit of FTBers unhappy that they wanted to buy with 5 or 10% and now frozen out, apparently HSBC one of the few still doing 90% but release a limited amount every morning at 8am and all gone by 815.

My buyer increased their deposit from 10-15% at the request of the bank 3 weeks ago, still nothing happening. It's moving incredibly slowly because the banks are struggling to get shit done.

Downstairs neighbour is doing works including removal of chimney stack (below our already removed one) and rear / side return. It's a Victorian terrace, we're in the 1st floor, he's ground.

Does he need to serve us with a party wall notice?

I can't even imagine that. I bought by the skin of my teeth with a 5% deposit three years ago and even this place would be out of my range now if I had to start looking at this point. Those poor bastards.

I'd hope so, given the structural problems it could cause.

Yes

Plot thickens. We did work when we first bought the place, I served the correct notices to our neighbours but not him, we just agreed in person. He bought at the same time and wasn’t living there. I guess it’s moot now as it was two years ago, but he has a strong position if we want a surveyor or something that’ll cost him money :/

I dunno I’d have thought the paper trail for the others plus the time should give you a reasonable case but I’m not a lawyer. I think you should be asking him, he should have a surgery or/structural engineer. So the least costly route for him would be for you to agree to use his to check everything in your place is ok

Interesting question. Does he actually need to serve on you? He may not actually be working on a party wall or structure with you. INAL just reading https://www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works and your description of works seems like he might be compliant. Maybe building near the boundary on the side return

Can’t believe I read all this shit and did due diligence on party walls two years ago then immediately deleted it from my brain once we were done.

He should have a spec of work from structural engineer which should show you if it's affecting party wall. Have you seen that?

he has a strong position

He's in the same position whether you had served notice for the work two years ago or not - As I understand it, the Act no longer applies once the work is completed.

At the very least, I'd want to know that the removal of the chimney breast is being done properly, and isn't going to result in your chimney breast collapsing through the floor.

Party structure notice looks like the requirement, every day’s a school day.

https://www.netlawman.co.uk/ia/walls-boundaries-2

We took out the one above it and put a steel in to support the stack, so unlikely, though our washing machine is above his chimney breast now so 🤷‍♂️

From what I remember, the Act is largely to protect the party doing the work from people like me claiming any and all cracks / structural problems are a result of their works, and demanding that they’re paid for. He’s an ex QS and seems to know his onions so I doubt the work will be dodgy.

In the event he doesn’t serve notice, we’re not in a terrible position right? If anything goes wrong we can claim, and he’s forgone any protection.

I thought he said his had already gone?

We took out the one above it

I completely misread your first post...

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-68884887.html

Now we're talking.

that cinema thing...

that was on grand designers? or that other channel 4 house guy maybe... the guy who 'built' it / owned it seemed like a mega tool

mega tool

all that marble is a dead giveaway.

The lel meme portrait on the floor in the kitchen did it for me

he should have a surgery

Bit harsh maybe?

That last photo makes it look like a museum or university cafe space.

A museum for self-congratulations.