Owning your own home

That's awesome - thanks very much, I'll check that out.

Just had another look at the pics and it looks like it’s brick as there is a brick part on the ground floor with the cladding next to it under the window, a closer look will tell you if they continue under the windows. Also there is height above the top window so if that’s the same front and back then it might be a warm roof.

Just wanted to say thanks to you and @tonylast for the Ideal Loft Ladders recommendations - they came in and completed it yesterday, went as close to the edge as they could, were super fast and efficient, and I couldn't be happier. Top recommendation. If anyone's thinking about getting their loft boarded and finds this post, I third that recommend.

I definitely wouldn't be ditching it if it meets all your other criteria.

If it's the type of property you like then lots of them will be electric heating only and difficulties in fitting modern stuff.

Only you will know how hot you like your house to be. If you like it really warm then you may want to look elsewhere, if you run hot then less of an issue. I run warm so realistically my main concern would be heating the living room, which is only one room. I don't care if the bedroom is cold, I'm under a duvet (and you can add an electric blanket), and the kitchen tends to warm up through cooking.

Also, there's a big flat roof across those flats so solar panels are a possible which should cut your electric heating costs.

Thanks all for your advice so far – it's really helpful to get a broad view of our options.

I spoke with the agent today and he's put the question re air-to-air heat pumps to the managing company.

While this will be useful - and please correct me if I'm wrong – I don't think they have the final say-so as this development is a "residents-owned management company that owns the freehold." I believe that means I would need the permission of the other leaseholders to make any external modifications.

I've also booked a call with lease-advice.org (though the earliest I could get was 29/10), which should help clarify things.

Away from this place, we have further viewings over the next week. I mustn't lose sight of the fact we need to be out of our current rental by 28 Feb so, while this house could be dreamy, as seamless a move as possible should also be prioritised. I will keep you all updated!

I'd much rather rent something, even an Airbnb for some months that buy something rushed.

How much would a mid-term stay at an Airbnb cost?

Assume nothing and expect everything when it comes to house purchase related shithousery. I’d avoid a place if its obviously going to take forever to sort the paperwork but I’d be reluctant to choose somewhere you aren’t totally in to just because on paper it will be quick.

The current front-runner besides the place detailed earlier is somewhere we'd be very happy with, so at least there's that.

If (when?) all goes tits up, though, then we'll consider how we'd bridge a gap.

Good to hear…we were so pleased they were happy to head out to our new house in Thanet having done our first house in Dartford so glad they’ve helped someone else.

How helpful are they in terms of validating the design? I've put something together using their software, but can't be sure that I've not messed something up.

Pretty good tbh. The planner does a lot of that - it'll flag stuff that it thinks won't work and automatically provide end panels etc.

Then someone checks over the plan before you pay/finalise the order. They messed up one panel for me but I was mixing and matching some bits in a fairly non-standard way - and they sorted free collection and refund for the part so no harm done.

I paid about £6k for my kitchen (minus appliances and worktops) and that's with quite a few cabinets/drawers etc.

Thanks.

How do you think it compared in price to the equivalent Howdens / High St. 40k kitchen shop price?

I guess you needed to bring your own builder / kitchen person in to do the putting together.

DIY kitchens cabinets arrive pre-made up by default (you can request them in made of access is an issue etc) so if you’re paying someone to build and fit this is worth taking into consideration as it saves a heck of a lot of time.

ETA Howdens pricing varies by the tradesperson ordering. Those that order more frequently get preferential discounts. I’d say DIY are probably still cheaper overall.

I found with our account on Howdens it worked out about 2 grand less than what diy kitchens price was and that was like for like.

We also dont have a big account with howdens either.

We used Howdens mostly because they price-matched everything we threw at them, even stuff like B&Q discounted stuff.

Leasehold question - Can managing agents charge fees for works on top of the standard annual management fees? My managing agent has organised for a new fire alarm to be installed along with some emergency lighting. The total cost for the work is £3300 and they want to charge an additional 10% for arranging it.

I've had the flat for over 10 years and in that time I don't believe we've ever had an additional fee for works like this.

I asked the agent if that could show me the clause in the lease which allows them to be able to charge additional fees and they said it does not need to be stated in the lease.

The amount of money per owner works out very small in this instance but the building requires some pretty substantial works within the next couple of years where that 10% could be a large amount of money so I'm loathed for a precedent to be set.

Be good to know if anyone has experience of this sort of thing, cheers.

it’s usual for them to charge a ‘management charge’ for specific section 20 works beyond the usual cleaning etc.
if you have been there 10 years then it’s likely the exterior/internal decoration might be due so don’t be surprised if there is more to come.

Ok thats good to know, thanks

Is this scheme actually real? I always feel like these things are going to be a scam. We have some old and blown windows that we will need to replace in the next few years

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Before:

After:
https://www.abodeweb.co.uk/properties/19814545/sales

The whole neighbourhood has been amey’d!

There are some stunning homes in the area such as:

Not to bad from the front considering

but its a huge box on the rear with a grey barren desert for a garden

or this trio who had all oriniment and colour removed

I've been feeling the pressure to keep up with the Jones' so I've just ordered 400l of mid grey paint for the house and 110 m² of ceramic faux marble tiles for our flooring, will be so much more relaxing when I dont have to stress my brain with colour or texture. Will have to wait till I can get my next payday loan so I can pave over our pesky front garden, parking my new Ford Raptor pickup on the road is killing me - How WILL the neighbours know its mine

Where do I (we) go to get a calculation on an equity split on a jointly owned property?
it’s not a divorce but the sale proceeds of one property are going to halve the mortgage on a co-habited home and both names put on the property.

We just want some guidance on who owns what percentage

neither of us are maths/spreadsheet people and it’s quite complicated with several bits of current mortgage including one that was interest only and then converted to repayment.

Sounds like you'll need a deed of trust, which you can get from a solicitor. They can work out the percentage each of you owns I'd think.

I think legally the answer might well be 50/50 (unless you expressly agreed otherwise) - although it's not expressed like that, you're just equal owners of a whole