Owning your own home

If all my neighbours kids teamed up it could be done in half a day.

Quicker if you provide them with old school squash with the good food colouring in it as refreshments

You'll definitely need TW's ppe suggestion if you go down this route though.

I’m more worried about how many of them have a CSCS card to get them on site tomorrow

Mini digger with narrow bucket could work to dig out some rubble and easier than rebuilding your garage.

Even a micro digger wouldn't fit in the space behind the garage. Even if the space was big enough to fit one, the digger would need to be lowered in with a crane...

The answer is still kids

How wide is it? You could probably clear most of that by removing bricks and fishing it out with a boat hook.

Honestly a bigger version of what he is sitting on would be perfect.

Yeah I've thought about some sort of grappling hook to drag it out.
I'm coming to accept that just having to lift out the biggest chunks by hand then shovel out as much as possible is probably the best solution.
As I get more out the easier it will be to get my body in there.

But I'm tired just thinking about it.

Think how hench you will be at the end

think how hench your kids would be

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Could you bridge the 2 rooves to prevent the rainfall getting in? Are they level?

^^ Amey looking good!

thank you!

Could have done it by now.
Wear gloves. Sharp brick beat the hell out of my hands when I took down a brick pillar that was hiding old pipes.
Plumber coming this week to sort the gas pipe out.

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It doesn't have to be done all in one day I guess so maybe slow and steady DIY is the way - is it feasible to knock down the wall in front of the gap so help you get the crap out? Joking aside and and going back to the kid thing... perhaps there's a teenager around you could pay to do it?

Super difficult to tell scale as well - I was thinking you could definitely crouch down there with a little room to move and twist.

You'd still probably have a damp issue from the existing rubble I'd imagine - unless you're talking about the belt and braces approach and doing both. Just adding a little plastic roof after?

Hi all, after some advice...

In the process of buying a house that has had alterations that didn't get planning consent/building control sign off. Seller has agreed to pay for indemnity insurance, the terms of which are as follows;

This quotation is provided on the understanding that the following are correct, and if this is the case, you do not need to confirm
them further:

1. The works to be covered were completed at least 12 months ago (‘works’ can include additions, alterations, replacement doors and
   windows, conversions, extensions and other installations)
   
2. You are not aware of any adverse features and/or recommendations for remedial action, in respect of the works
   
3. No application for consent has previously been refused and/or application made to obtain retrospective consent, in respect of the
   works
   
4. The breach of planning condition occurred at least 4 years ago
   
5. There has been no attempt to regularise the breach of planning condition(s) with the local authority
   The property is a single, stand-alone residential dwellinghouse or a purpose-built flat, rather than a property formed from a
   converted building, a house in multiple occupation, or an additional, self-contained dwelling ancillary to the main dwelling.
   6.
   The local authority has not indicated any intention to investigate or take action in relation to the breach of planning condition(s)
   and/or works.
   
   

Subsequently I've done some digging on the local council planning portal, and found a a building control application that was submitted in May 21 and withdrawn in June, detailing the the works that had been carried out (extension in 2005 and removed of chimney breast in 2020). Which I find a bit suspect.

My understanding is that this would invalidate any indemnity insurance...

The sellers are either stupid or deliberately withholding information. For context, they failed to mention anything about chimney breast removal on the property information form, and described the extension as a conservatory, so I don't trust much of what they say!

Not really sure what course of action to take next. Any advice welcome.

Cheers

Those conditions appear to conflate planning permission and building control. What does your conveyancing solicitor say?

Apparently our buyers mortgage offer expired last week, which seems to have been news to both their solicitors and to our estate agents. WTF?

I'm yet to speak to him about the planning application I've found yet. Only came across it today.

All he's said to date is the sellers have agreed to take out the indemnity policy, and that "The sellers have confirmed that the conditions on the policy are correct"

He's said he's not overly concerned that any council enforcement would be taken against is, however I think he's been led to believe the chimney breast removal was done longer ago that detail on the council application.

Tbh, I was hoping to just ignore the fact I'd seen the application and hope I'm covered by someone else's lack of due diligence/misrepresentation...

Sounds like a good opportunity to negotiate the price down.

As before and I’m sure you know just because you can get an indemnity it doesn’t mean the works were done right.

"The sellers have confirmed that the conditions on the policy are correct"

And how do you indemnify yourself against them being full of shit...

And what Howard states - how would you know that the chimney has been taken out properly.

Apparently our buyers mortgage offer expired last week

I assume this is an AIP not a full offer for completion? AIPs run out afyer ~3 months usually.

I had this once when we offered on a different property after the first one fell through causing the process to extend. It was a minor PITA as the bank insisted on instructing a new valuation for the new application.

Not aip - full mortgage offer!!!