Owning your own home

Huge variations in what they offer. I've got a Yale one which is easy to install and seems to work ok.

Saying that, I have no idea how secure the Yale website is compared to others.

Thanks dude. I'm not sure if it's a deal breaker, but I have let my buyers know. I'm also not sure what Class MA is but no, I don't think so. Robert Jenrick did put through some legislation last year to allow freeholders to build on top of existing buildings without having to obtain planning permission first:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/12/property-owners-right-build-upwards-without-planning-permission

But something doesn't smell right about that because my freeholder HAS in fact submitted a planning request. I wonder if we're exempt from this legislation - given what I know about the nature of this freeholder they're unlikely to do this if they didn't have to. If the advice you received (that they need consent from leaseholders) holds here then we've got no problem - fingers crossed. We'll get some legal advice this week. It's just so exhausting with these people.

There's a block of flats near me going through planning permission for this (two storeys was turned down so they've come back with a new application for one storey).

There's restrictions on when the block was built as to whether it can be permitted development. I think it needs to have been built after 1950 or so to not require planning (there are various other criteria too).

I'd guess the specific leaseholder position will probably depend on what's in the lease. The leaseholders in the block near me haven't been consulted at all so far.

They offer a discount of £1300ish if we decided on the spot (!!).

Classic sales pressure tactic.

Fuckity Bye * 1300.

Yeah, that can fuck off. We got lucky with our sales guy. No pressure, discounted price available for well over a month. Called us with further discounts even after we had signed.

The Anglian sales guy was a massive bell end.

The three local places we approached never came back to us.

As has been said - wait until the final day of the quarter, email them in the morning asking what their best price is for a purchase same-day.

All good advices, the Catford Glass Shop round the corner quote £1200 for the two large front windows, and will shove our sofa through it inbetween the changes.

What have you got in there at the minute? Busted old PVC stuff?

We are currently renovating the wooden sash windows at our place which is a mucky, noisy job but significantly cheaper than replacement.

On the topic of windows...A couple of mine have condensation in the top panes. Can the glass units be replaced, whilst keeping the same frames or is this eneconomical> (It seems a shame to chuck the old frames when they are serviceable)

If it's modern double glazing replacing the panels is super easy...as long as you can buy replacement panels in the right dimensions. When we've had to do this, the facia of the window on the inside just pops off then the glass panel can be removed and replaced.

Busted old PVC stuff?

Old wooden one in the front, the wood is rotten, windows can be repaired but would like to reduce noise from the road to zero (doable).

The rear is old PVC that still decent but nowhere near the standard of modern windows

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Cool thanks! I'll have a gander at some options

This video demonstrates how to do it.
Not sure if it's the best way of doing it, but it shows how they are typically constructed.

just had someone round to look at our damp - he immediately said he is sure it is due to the render not having any cover/protection from rain and that any rain is being absorbed and then collecting towards the bottom (we only have damp at the base).

The render is not painted or anything like that so I can see that being potentially true

Thing is he wants to sell us some £5k breathable, flexible coating. They would guarantee the work and so on but I dont like the vibe I got o rthe way he knew what the issue was straight away. Second opinion needed I think.

That doesn't look too bad. Assume the rot is on the external face? chuck some photos here of all of the damaged bits. Could be saveable, assuming you might want to try saving them.

Thing is he wants to sell us some £5k breathable, flexible coating.

Which is no different to cement render, insofar as it's fine if it's entirely contiguous, and never cracks. At which point it is substantively worse than no render.

They would guarantee the work

My guess is that it is a very limited guarantee, and would need to be paid for every few years. And not underwritten at all, so pretty worthless (ibid. Everest 2020 up thread.

he immediately said he is sure it is due to the render not having any cover/protection from rain and that any rain is being absorbed and then collecting towards the bottom (we only have damp at the base).

They are a salesperson, not a builder, surveryor or engineer

Eurocote / Plasticote etc... is faddy, pressure sales crap.

you could argue render is porous both ways whereas they are trying to advertise some sort of goretex-like one way porous cover

But I agree, I didn't like the sound of it either way, was very much a sales pitch

Finding people to sort damp problems is an absolute fucker.

Finding the right people to sort damp problems is an absolute fucker.

How old is the building?

It is saveable, as our surveyor said it can be repaired when the flat was looked at, but be good to replace the windows with a decent double glazing regardless.

Which is no different to cement render.

If it’s no different, then it doesn’t allow the building to breathe and can contribute to damp.

(Depending on the building)

Same, although we’re only doing 5 sashes for now (for a cool £4K). They’re doing quite a bit of the work off site but I imagine there is noise and dust to come…