Owning your own home

Just to add on the security chat. Sash windows are more of a target than doors. I do a lot of renovation of sash windows and it's depressing how vunerable they are. At least make sure you have key operated security bolts in place and in the lower position during the winter.

Also had forensics tell me that this time of year is the burglars favourite because it's dark and that makes it easier for them to operate.

Foreign buyers seem to be full on and think that you will bow to there wim because they have cash. You done the right thing.

I do a lot of renovation of sash windows and it's depressing how vunerable they are.

A friend had his house broken into via the sash windows. A poorly installed sash window is quite vulnerable. Details elided

The Police said was an increasingly common way for burglars to get in to properties.

tl;dr like cycling - make sure your insurance is up to scratch and don't have the nicest looking thing in the street. If they want in they will probably get in, just don't give them any encouragement.

And hide your numerous sports Rolex in biscuit tins buried away in a kitchen cupboard ;)

Only Banham gives that “bank vault” feel when you lock up the house for a weekend away by Range Rover /sarcasm

Who locks up the house when they go away? The staff will be in and out.

staff

poor door obvi

Yes, I try not to publish the vulnerability online. There are some products that are supposed to deal with it for new windows. I've heard that the met recommend leaving your front windows painted shut.

Did you hear about the burglars using metal detectors to find safes etc.

I think there are diy ways to secure a sash window from inside as long as the glass isn't compromised. I do put laminated glass into renovated sashes which helps a lot with noise but also makes the glass part much less vunerable.

Yes, I try not to publish the vulnerability online.

Noted and details removed.

I adjusted my answer to suit :)

Put my yard back up on the market if anyone is after The Last Set Of Two Beds In Walthamstow For Under Three Hundred Large: https://www.stowbrothers.com/property/lea-bridge-road-leyton-5

Flat's nice, got outdoor space. Decent community engagement, reasonable service charge, no ground rent, long lease, new boiler. We've still got a dirtbag freeholder but we've booted out his managing agents with RTM. Actions in train to buy the freehold. It's a good little place to live.

I had a buyer who demanded a 20% discount in the week before exchange (due to uncertainty in the market from Covid). Told them that wouldn't be happening and the main reason I'm happy about increasing property prices is that fucker will eventually have to fork out more to buy somewhere.

I actually ended up selling for a higher price than the previous offer so it wasn't the disaster I thought it was going to be at the time.

Cheers for the various suggestions re: security. Will have to have a look into security films and the like. I already have an alarm and it isn't something I'm hugely concerned about, just wondering what the point of expensive locks next to a window is.

The Banham lock from the outside so it can't be opened from the inside seems useful, will have to look into that.

Just some chat in the watch thread about storage and where might be the best place - which was probably not a safe given that they will just take the safe if they can. Anything they can’t take will be too cumbersome to get in your gaff anyway.

I asked the window resto chap who did ours about that vulnerability - he was sceptical because there is in his opinion an even easier way with unmodded old sashes. Ours now how bottom clips, spoilers to prevent the bottom sash being forced open and bolts that go through the window and in to the frame.

They could just smash the glass though!

Not sure how unique the Banham is in that respect but their L2000 latch has a mortice type bolt but the mechanisms wear so the bolt doesn't stay retracted and crashes on the staple when you go to close it. I regularly visit properties with this problem.

The era one does it for £50

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/product/era-bs3621:2007-double-locking-nightlatch-60mm-backset-satin-chrome-casecylinder-982885

Laminated safety glass maybe!

Sounds like you've covered the bases on the sashes though. Quite a few of the houses I've worked on used to have street level access but they've now got basements so the front windows are a bit more secure.

By shitty bathroom, hello new bathroom.

Theee weeks not being at home and staying at my parents in the depth of Surrey paid off

(Ignore the corner/windows area; we’re still waiting for the windows from Brockley Glass)

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you got the arse gun!!

a habitable space

don't think a kitchen counts as one, which is why it doesn't need a window

Girlfriend lives in Mumbai for a couple of years, said it’s the best thing ever, apparently white people are very filthy for using toliet roll.

Amazing! I have the same. I am glad you didnt get a hot water mixer for it either. Cold is the way to go. So refreshing.

It gonna take me some coaxing to convict me to use it.

i almost look forward to it every day