Owning your own home

Other mortgage providers may differ.

They do.
This is from my Nationwide statement -

My original mortgage was for 87000 and every year I had an overpayment allowance of 8700.

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Oven update:

our original diagnosis was wrong, it isn't the fan at the back thats the problem, its this guy:

the 'blades' thing can slide along its axle and eventually moves itself to the the edge of its cage (to the right on the photo) which causes the horrible noise.

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Why are some solicitors quoting £200 for searches and others up to £500?

I should perhaps add that a listed building that has been properly maintained and doesn’t need to be altered to suit your needs could be fine. The frustrating thing about our works is that about 90% of the cost is remedying damage done by the previous owner, both before and after it was listed and a combination of neglect and abuse. Only a tiny bit of our spend is on making actual changes, and they are minor internal works like taking out a hideous open tread staircase from the middle of the sitting room. We could have saved a hell of a lot of money if we had decided just to decorate over the crimes of the past.

Can you get an itemised breakdown?

I suspect (assuming it’s the same property) that the £200 quote will come back a few weeks into the deal and say ‘oh yes, we also need to do xyz additional searches not in the standard quote’

Yeah I suspect this.

One of them actually offered to go and find out exactly what it would cost after I queried it, which is nice.

What that doesn't tell me is whether another solicitor will be able to get them for less because they use a different supplier. Ho hum.

I had some optional searches which I seem to remember was another couple of hundred. One on planning and area designations and things and another that was an enhanced environmental check.

Think all searches came to about £500 in total.

The searches are a set price. Line cost £230 I believe which include indemnity insurance because our property came up on the church/parish whatever you call it search

So maybe the top end is for any surprises that may happen and getting indemnity insurance

Edit: remembered the search. Chancel
Assuming your London. You can check how much water and waste search is from Thames water. The one that differs is that of the local authority.

Roof works starting today.

Scaffolders arrived. All of them are massive, ripped, face tattoos and grizzly expressions. Scary looking fuckers.

who do they vote for?

SCAFFERS.
R.
ARD.

Exactly the type your mum warns you about.

Probably mates of @handtightenonly

Swapped Penge for Devon. Currently renting but waiting on our mortgage to come through.

Application started in July and still not through! It's a port from our previous mortgage too. I'd really have liked to sack Virgin off but it would have been a £5k penalty.

oh god dont tell me this.

We finally got ours survey for our virgin port booked for next Wednesday. I think we're realistically looking at another month before we can exchange.

Slowed slightly because they needed additional info to confirm my employment over the last 2 years (which is ridiculous as they had that at our last renewal less than2 years ago). Apparently current delay is because they are 'porting manually' whatever that actually means?!

whatever that actually means?!

Basically you are a new customer to them and they will treat you as such.

Had the same thing from Halifax. Like we didn't exist and they knew nothing about us.

Ended up getting a broker to sort it for us and had the approval in about four weeks.

Nice we swapped Gipsy Hill for Devon, in Jan this year. Where about in Devon are you based?

Kitchen being refitted, was told 2 weeks but expect it to be 3, now in 3rd week expect it to be 6. If they all worked a full day it would have been done in 2 weeks.

Only some much BBQs and cooking on camping stove anyone should have to take.

One of the best posts on this thread for ages.

Those rates are kinda high are they not?
I was in the same position last month, went 5 year fixed, but we are on a sub 2% interest rate, maybe it relates to LTV?

I'm thining the same too. Since moving in Sept (as I was told at the start) it looking increasingly unlikely now...

Anyone had some glass roof lights made for side returns? Trying to decide between two large panes and four velux windows.

If it makes you feel better we had the same experience. Then captain butter fingers dropped a jar of Nutella through the new hob...

back to jet boil cooking, but now with a £1k base to rest on...

Yes.
Went for large panes rather than Veliux.
More glass = more light.