Owning your own home

Well, most councils are in financial trouble because of 'the cuts', of course. I have no understanding of Haringey's finances at the moment at all, except that they didn't cause such a catastrophe as what happened in Hackney. When I had anything to do with Haringey, it was only about traffic projects, and they certainly weren't very good back then, although no worse than some other local authorities, but that's the extent of my knowledge of that council.

Haringey's response to being in a financial quandary is just to under-invest in everything.

Not strictly true, they did spend plenty of money on the super logo

A lifetime tenancy from the council used to be exactly that. It would be very difficult to evict people if they hadn't broken some simple rules. The council started to sell flats in Hammersmith & Fulham 10 years ago but due to some clause councils don't receive a lot of the money for them to spend so it's not a popular approach. I've read that Kennsington & Chelsea were stopping because they receive so little of the sale price they can't provide alternative housing with the receipts.

My flat is currently on the market, and today i was asked if i had a ESW1 form by a prospective buyer, we don't, the building is three storeys, was built in 2013, it's block and render with not a bit of cladding in sight.

I was aware of the issue, but hadn't thought it would affect us as the construction is obvious, we have the planning docs from when built, but I've been told most lenders require the certificate regardless.

Looks like our plans are going to be on hold for a while.

Spraying offers a finish you cannot get with a brush and roller imo, Its the way forward although you'll use more paint.

Also airless spraying is dangerous so be careful

He should have insurance for things like this, I do.

Yeah insulation under the floor even mineral wool would have been good to do while it was all up.

I would respond with "no, it doesn't need one as it's under 18m tall and has no combustible materials on the exterior" if those things are true.

We got a lot of questions from nervous buyers due to stuff they had read about that just weren't relevant.

That's nearly the exact quote we were told by the developers of this block but it doesn't mean the banks aren't asking for one.

But in @mustardbeak 's case, it's not the bank asking, it's the buyer. On our memorandum of sale it asked if an EWS1 was required. We said no as it's a 2 storey, brick built house with no additional external features. Heard nothing else since and our buyer has their mortgage offer.

This what the agent has said:

'Although there isn’t cladding lenders appear to still be requesting it regardless (santander are the only lenders that will do it without but an updated FRA report).'

Anyone got a recommendation for a surveyor for full fat survey in South London (SW2/SW9)? Preferrably someone that I can have an informal chat with afterwards to talk through!

our buyer (before pulling out) got a mortgage without FRA or EWS1 in August, Im not sure this statement is totally true right now

That bay windows is where you wanna sit when eating.
Is that a window between the bedroom and kitchen?

If anyone needs a solicitor recommendation Claire Fountain and her assistant Alice at TWM Fulham have been super responsive, knowledgeable and helpful - and have got us from offer to exchange in four weeks.

This is what I would do, Mayne, if the space is right... maybe too many cabinets.

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That bay windows is where you wanna sit when eating.

I'd agree with that. A bathroom with a bay window seems a waste of all the light that you get in through the bay.

I need someone to fit a doorframe and door (I could attempt it myself but the lack of any square walls makes me think it would be a ballache). I'm guessing I'm looking for a carpenter, any recommendations for North London? Cheers

Apparently smaller buildings were pulled into scope in march thanks to parliament, though this is good intel thanks.

I've gone with the @stevo_com line of no we don't need one but have raised a question with our freeholder.

Think we're just going to pull our flat off the market - house we were buying has now gone to someone else, still no one in the running for our flat.

Cant see anything else on the market right now we want, so unlikely to make stamp duty deadline, might just try again in spring.

Tado users, is it possible to use the TRV in a 'manual' mode without setting up the whole shebang? I'm installing a new radiator and replumbing an existing so could either set up the Tado TRVs now, use use regular ones until I get round to setting up the whole Tado kit.

sorry to hear that. sounds like a real shit show to be put through

Lots of houses on our radar have also been pulled from the market until spring (I guess) as well. A new listing that interested us went up at 5pm Monday afternoon, called 8:45am Tuesday to get soonest available viewing, booked in for tomorrow. Just received the call that it's been sold. It's a frenzy out there.

Some chatter on Twitter about the updated guidance for EWS1 being released this Sunday. Source is a journo.

This will be for buildings below 18m in height. This is currently being called "EWS2"

That would make me the luckiest man alive