Owning your own home

For the full grand designs vibe you should probably move into a caravan.

And have a baby halfway through

Why would you need to rent somewhere?

Also, There's 3 gas meter boxes on the outside of the building - albeit it looks like only two of them are connected.

You're right - and there are two stories to the small rear extension so you're definitely not getting the basement.

The listing also doesn't mention the garden at all - even as a shared garden - perhaps why the building is so IMPOSING.

Mainly to avoid living in the place and renovating at the same time.

That's what we did with out current place and 20 years later, it still isn't finished.

Ah got ya, makes sense.

So, get a crane to lift the caravan into the garden of a three bed terrace in Leyton; is that how it works?

Would probably make decent TV.

Surely it's a 50k log cabin office/digs in the back garden

Anyone got any practical advice on how to get a building company to remove a scaffold?

Had one up on our block of flats for ~6 weeks now, for roof works. The work has been completed but scaffolding remains. Builder claims the scaffolders are understaffed, or on holiday etc and that it's "out of his hands". This is rubbish of course because the scaffolding company is his subcontractor.

The builder has been very rude to two of my neighbours. He's fine with me, but stil hasn't actually done anything even though I've asked

Any suggestions?

This is rubbish of course because the scaffolding company is his subcontractor.

This is true in that it's his responsibility if they're his subcontractor, but in reality, nobody wants to fuck with scaffolders so they are a law unto themselves. They are very likely telling the truth about staffing and are just waiting until they need it for another job. Easier to take it down once and move it to the new job than to take it back to the yard, sort it, store it then pull it out again for the next job. It's not going anywhere so they'll just take it as free storage. You can keep asking, but IME it is very unlikely to have any impact. Plus, if the builder has been paid then he has not much of an incentive to piss off the scaffolders. Whatever you do, make sure to check for any damage when they do take it down and report that asap before the builder fucks off over the horizon. Ours smashed up the gutters and fascia boards taking theirs down.

This is really useful and validates what I've told my neighbours, almost identically in fact.

Fortunately for me the scaffolding isn't directly outside my flat. So I can now relax a bit more.

in reality, nobody wants to fuck with scaffolders so they are a law unto themselves.

Haha so true.

Are all estate agents equally as much d*ckheads or are some better than others?

E17 area. Just want someone to give me a ball park valuation.

Edit: should say are some less bad than others

Call vince laurella from ee11

Ours smashed up the gutters

Ours too

Ours smashed up the gutters

Ours too

Scaffold on our block was for the purpose of repairing the gutters :)

Anyone got any experience with using Consumer Rights Act to resolve stuff?

LONG story short(ish): we had a log burner put in, and the installer went rogue and put the flue pipe about .5 metres off our gable end (into our neighbour's property at head height). He says it's our fault because we trusted his drawing which was for 'illustration purposes only,' but it's the only flue I've ever seen look as ridiculous as this. HETAS (the regulatory body) wont get involved because it's technically compliant (fuck knows how), so now we're down to Trading Standards / Consumer Rights Act bollocks.

Installer says he'll sort it out, but for the princely sum of a full day's labour for his team (600 +VAT). Having already paid 4k upfront (their policy) for the full job, I'm loath to cough up more cash for what I think is a total bodge job.

Any advice welcome!

2 Attachments

CRA, section 11, goods must be as described. Section 8, goods (and services) must be of a satisfactory quality.

For a claim, you can make a claim using MCOL for the whole lot, on that basis, and have them argue it in the county court.

Make yourself familiar with the pre-action protocols first though (there are few guides you can buy for a few pounds), as county court judges want to see that other avenues for agreement have been exhausted first.

Is it the distance off your gable that’s the problem? As it’s not indicated on the drawing, and what they’ve done basically looks like the drawing, I think asking an external arbiter for help is a waste of time.

Maybe trying asking nicely for a reduced rate, my neighbour is livid, I have to live next to them etc…

What specifically is your concern? If it is incursion into your neighbours space, and/or height of the flue from floor level, then both of those would appear to be in the text notes (which might be considered separate from the drawing). Was there a written specification or did sheet A.04 comprise the specification?

I'm not familiar with HETAS, but if they consider the installation compliant but you aren't happy then does that imply your concern is outside HETAS' remit? If so, is there another body you can refer to? Is there another installer that you could ask for an opinion?

@dbr yes – and I don't think the drawing looks remotely like what they've supplied (other than it being a black pipe next to a house).

@Cupcakes – unfortunately no written specifications beyond the invoice. I think asking another installer is a good shout. We've had multiple tradies here since it was put in and they've all unanimously agreed that it looks ridiculous.

Trying again. Any conveyancing recommendations? Gracias!

I did something similar (seek a second opinion from installer) for some issues with flooring and it was helpful.

I have sympathy for your position and I don't in any way intend to be dismissive, so please take this with consideration (and recalling that I am just some random internet person and not a specialist flue installer):

it looks ridiculous

I think you will need to be much more specific about your grievance to get a good result

I don't think the drawing looks remotely like what they've supplied

I disagree

Exactly my experience of scaffolders recently. I had scaffolding on the outside of my house to have solar panels installed. It was there for 7 weeks after the solar panels had been installed. Happily the only downside appears to be a very dead patch of grass where the scaffolders put a block of wood to support the end of the scaffolding on the side lawn, so I think overall I've got away lightly. I've also concluded that scaffolders aren't really people people. They erected the scaffolding without even knocking on the door to say they'd arrived, and removed it with no warning at all when I was out of the house. Probably a good thing.