Owning your own home

Is there any chance the attached photo is the flexible filling hose?

If it were my heating system I'd try that.

Yes! It was. Got the pressure up enough to bleed the rad at the top of the house, which is now warming up.

Amazing, thanks all.

Excellent.

Probably best to add some of this at some point: https://www.screwfix.com/p/fernox-f1-protector-central-heating-inhibitor-500ml/342pp or similar from another brand.

The house opposite ours is for sale, a friend came to look at it and the agent told him it was an open house, 15+ people viewing, you need to make an offer today, it'll be sold by the end of the day etc etc etc
We sat in my living room until it was his turn to go in, after he had viewed he came back for tea/cake etc. We watched one more person view it then the agent left at mid day, they had had a total of 6 people viewing, cunts will lie through their teeth to make a sale.

They are lying bastards.

what are the protocols in buying a house directly from the owner ? would it be possible to cut out the estate agent marketing the house ? house hasn't sold in 9 months agent hasn't found a buyer

a friend has introduced seller to buyer independently of the estate agent. are there any legal issues with going directly ? and avoiding the estate agent fees.

There’s usually a contract in place between estate agent and vendor. Would need to have a look at that to see if they have exclusivity etc

Seller will have signed something they would need to see what it says, these EA's aren't daft!

If it’s still being marketed (listed online etc) by agent, it’ll still be under contract

The vendor will need to terminate the contract with the estate agent. The potential buyer should make that a pre-condition of any offer.

The potential buyer should make that a pre-condition of any offer.

They very possibly shouldn't, pretending nothing has happened (not even contact) until after the contract with the estate agent is terminated may be a better route depending on what the vendor/agent contract says.

The potential buyer

Shouldn’t care - they don’t have any agreement with the agent at all

The potential seller should be careful though

I feel like most agents when we last sold had sole agency in their contract, but not rights on selling independently of them - which I think is slightly different (IANAL). Either way, surely 9 months without a sale you should be well outside any terms which stop you canning them?

Yes the answer, boringly, will be in the details of the individual contract the seller has with the EA.

They need to be especially careful if the potential buyer has had any contact with the EA on this particular properly since it was listed.

Neighbours have a garage at the end of their garden, they have a landscaper who is renting it out so I gave them my number as we need some fencing doing and also neighbour mentioned he could help trim our trees.

He’s just rang and said that he wants to take our apple tree down as it’s undermining the garage and potentially causing damage. I’m obviously loath to do that, it’s a nice tree!

Any advice?

Tell him to do one.

If it's on your property there's nothing he can do. He can trim back the bits that cross the boundary line but that's about it.

I'd ask to see the problem, but I think it would a decision between you and your neighbour.

Edit - you're supposed to notify your insurers if you have a tree causing damage to a neighbouring property.

If he does trim the overhanging bits, he has to return those bits to the owner of the tree.

If a tree on your land is damaging someone else’s property then you are liable, irrespective if they’ve been told to do one or not.

I know there tends to be a back your boy mentally to this thread, but if someone's got a tree that's fucking up their neighbour's building, then a more appropriate response might be to talk to the neighbour directly (without the landscaper tenant around) and ask to have a look at the damage.

It's a tree ffs. They can buy another and plant it further away.

Edit: the reason for not wanting the landscaper involved is because it has nothing to do with them and you have no idea what skills or knowledge they actually have. It also smells a bit like a blag where he'll imply that he'll do it for free, then actually charge you and say "lol of course I want to be paid, you don't work for free do you?"

Yeah to be clear I’m probably more interested in keeping good relations with next door and reducing long-term cost than keeping the tree, but if there are options to do all 3 then great!

As far as I can tell, they would have to prove definitely that any damage potentially caused by a tree is actually caused by it, and perhaps we might only be liable for any damage after they’ve actually informed us? I think they have the right to cut through the roots on their land too (similar to overhanging branches).

potentially causing damage

I would be asking for evidence. And evidence that shows its your tree that HAS caused damage, not potentially. It may be that there was already damage/cracks etc and roots will find their way in. You need to be certain that damage has been caused by your tree and its not underlying issues and they are just looking for causes as quick fixes.

Be keen to see the size of the apple tree as well! I don't know much about trees but I don't think apple tree roots are particularly aggressive.

Did you actually read my post?

I said it's a decision for him and his neighbour, I was being a bit flippant but maybe not coming across on a Monday morning.

^^^Probably also worth double checking your home insurance. Did you forget to renew like my neighbours? Is there legal cover, any other useful info, etc.

Sorry, you're right I didn't read it properly, day off and reading lazily in bed.

So yeah, I'd definitely ignore the landscaper, or say "thanks, I'll speak to Mr & Mrs Jones, directly"

Here you go, it’s not been super well looked after and pruned by the previous owner but we like the shade it provides. Don’t comment on the rest of the garden!

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