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Not been on the thread for a while.
That looks like a good buy from a quick look on the train just now. I live nearby and in terms of price p sq m looks absolutely fine. Garage is worth 20k on its own or £150 ISH p month. You can accurately work out what a place like that is worse in the condition by looking at sold prices of comparables in the area. Checking out the lease is a good shout - try and get a sense of is it well run and is maintenance done proactively. Much better than a modern lease where you can be paying the developer £200+ per month for not very much at all.
In terms of the heating thing, heat pumps not my area of expertise but I think they need to be 5m away from a neighbouring bedroom?
On the cost of renovating it and so on, if it's not a forever or long term home, depending on your philosophy you probably don't want to spend more than you'll get at the end. I've probably broken even with my place but I'm saving / paying myself back £££ p month by not renting which I didn't really factor in. Bristol trades can be expensive too (though not all of them). Having family to help is a plus. Advantage of a project is can do stuff as and when.
Don't let needing to move out of your rental place be a significant factor in what is a huge purchase. Lots of rooms come up if you need somewhere to live short term, even in the Bristol shit show. Saw one on npcc discord a few days ago.
Edit - says sold so good luck if you got an offer accepted and do go speak to neighbours! How long have they been there is a good metric
bobble-
Thanks for the sage words!
We spoke to some of the neighbours and struggled to get a clear idea on what and wouldn’t be permitted. We still really liked the place after a second viewing, and did some more intensive research, but concluded it was a wee bit too much of a gamble. Such a shame as it’s a cool block but not quite right for our circumstances.
In the end, we decided to put an offer in on a really nice flat at the bottom of Clifton Vale, which was accepted. This is a much safer bet with the council as the freeholder, which has made it so much easier to get answers to questions. And it has two private bike stores! Things are moving at pace and, all being well (ha!) we could be in for January. We’re very happy with the decision we’ve made.
JacqueLucque
We are considering buying a really nice upstairs flat built in 1964. You can see the EPC rating for the property here: https://find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/energy-certificate/0370-2854-8410-2224-2255
The property listing, including floorplan, is here: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153370358#/?channel=RES_BUY
It is unlikely that I will be able to install any type wet central heating system.
Likewise, externally mounted heat pumps will almost certainly not be possible due to leaseholder agreements (that may not be strictly true but I think it's best to continue with the assumption it won't be possible).
As such, this locks us into installing a new electric-based heating system.
I envisage (however please suggest any alternatives) running a central hot water boiler for the bathroom and kitchen paired with modern electric heaters. I am not fussy – nor do I have the expertise to comment on the optimal option! – about the technology used for the heaters.
I am also willing to invest in a smart home system (this is the part I'm most excited by), most likely controlled by Home Assistant. I won't go into too much detail as it's beyond the scope of this post but I anticipate using temperature sensors and HA's predictive weather reporting capability to control the system.
The house has good double glazing but, as highlighted in the EPC report, it's not terribly well insulated elsewhere. I may be able to insulate the roof internally using foam-backed panels and the floor with something similar, but additional improvements are unlikely.
Considering all of this and the EPC report, can I get a vibe check on:
To provide context, we really like this property – it's the right size for us, has a sizable garage and is in a great part of town, so it's a really difficult decision.
As a total aside, if leaseholder reforms are brought in, I hope the right to insulate and heat your home with modern tech is made part of it. It seems mad that I even have to consider installing a sub-optimal system, but there you go