Owning your own home

Wow, just reading this thread makes my head ache. Over here, if things aren't completed within a couple of days, there's something seriously wrong. We made our offer on our current house and had it accepted on the spot by the owners. Papers were signed and filed, then the legal work was done at closing in the space of a half hour or so.

We're currently looking for a second house for my wife's parents in our neighborhood, just a stone's throw from Lake Ontario. Unfortunately prices have increased significantly in the 5 years since we bought. Some people aren't even going through the motions of fixing their places up a bit first before selling. They know they will get their price or more anyway.

How do you deal with a landlord if you are renting and hope to buy in the near future? How do the timings work? Been in our place a few years but hope to buy next year. Tenancy renews around Oct/Nov.

Cheers

It'll go onto a month-by-month rolling contract then, won't it? I'd keep quiet about buying, then hand in your notice when the sale has gone through. Don't tell them early or they'll start looking for new tenants and may want you out.

How do you deal with a landlord if you are renting and hope to buy in the near future? How do the timings work? Been in our place a few years but hope to buy next year. Tenancy renews around Oct/Nov.

Cheers

There is actually no need to renew a tenancy. If you and the landlord agree, you need to do no more than just continue to pay the rent until such time as you wish to leave and then just give notice. Do a search of 'periodic tenancy' which is what it will automatically change to at the end of the fixed term period.
Most letting agencies like draw up a new tenancy agreement every year to get another load of commission but there really is no need.

Bit of advice? This may be a bad idea, but I was considering dropping a quick letter to the seller by post, just saying 'hi, I know things seem to be going well, but should you ever want to get in touch you can get me on 01234 567890. No worries if not, Sparky'.

The thinking being that if we're ever being held up for whatever reason, we could get the truth straight from the horse's mouth with a text message or phone call.

Bad idea or no?

Estate agent may not like it but there's no harm in talking direct with the seller and comparing notes if things start slowing. At least then you can both chase if things need pushing along.

We're not through an agency, direct with the landlord but have resigned each year. After the first year it was so we could get away from the letting sharks. After the second year it was so he could up the rent (he didn't the first year). After the third year it was to up the rent again but only by £50.

I had already planned to contest any increase this year as he hasn't had to do anything in the last year or so and I have done a bit of work outside etc. Will have a read of the agreement.

Even though the agreement may end at say 12 months, unless one or the other of you serve notice to end it, you can just stay put and it will automatically become a periodic tenancy. You will probably have a standard worded AST agreement.
The way forward will really depend on your relationship with the landlord and the timing of your planned purchase. You could be totally up front with him and hope he agrees a rolling tenancy. You could renew for a shorter period, say 6 months.

Bit of advice? This may be a bad idea, but I was considering dropping a quick letter to the seller by post, just saying 'hi, I know things seem to be going well, but should you ever want to get in touch you can get me on 01234 567890. No worries if not, Sparky'.

The thinking being that if we're ever being held up for whatever reason, we could get the truth straight from the horse's mouth with a text message or phone call.

Bad idea or no?

I'd say go for it, it's not going to hurt is it.

I spoke to the women we were buying our house off a fair bit. Considering there was no chain either end it still took nigh on 4 months from the date we put the offer in.

She often rang and was apologetic over how long it was taking, not that it was her fault at all of course.

Stamp duty: does that have to be paid in one big hit? Or can you pay in installments?

All at once, as far as I remember.

All at once but how you fund it is down to you so you could borrow the money elsewhere and pay that back in installments if funds are tight.

Seven Sisters - definitley money being spent, get it while you can afford it. Have a look at Haringey Online website for threads about changes to the area.

How do you deal with a landlord if you are renting and hope to buy in the near future? How do the timings work? Been in our place a few years but hope to buy next year. Tenancy renews around Oct/Nov.
Cheers

I just gave notice and was prepared to pay rent and mortgage for a two month overlap. In the end our landlord said "oh, you've cleaned it all up already, do you want to move out early? I'll refund you the rent"

"Yes please"

Fin.

Yeah, I'm hoping he's going to continue being as distant as he has been (never met him and he only lives 2 miles away). We've been good tenants, always paid the rent, helped other people in other flats when builders needed access out the back etc. Hoping that he will forget there wasn't a catflap when we moved in though. Even still, I'd be happy for the price of a back door to come out of the deposit as I was the one who put a hole in it. I kept the cut out piece with ideas of filling it back in and repainting but I know I just wouldn't be arsed.

am I nuts for considering to buy a place in seven sisters?

Perhaps.
You are nuts to consider it if

• you want a choice of places (or even one place!) for a pleasant drink or evening meal within 5 minutes walk
  
• you won't be able to live with litter, flytipping and adult men urinating against trees or walls in broad daylight
  
• groups of men hanging around makes you feel unsafe
  
  

you are not nuts if

• you want a lot of home for your money
  
• you want to be cycling distance from the centre of London but also have good public transport connections
  
• you want plenty of local shops and everyday chains within walking distance
  
• you want somewhere you will be on at least "good morning" terms with your neighbours
  
• you don't mind walking 20 mins or so to find a decent pub/meal, or get a bus
  
• you want to be close to Dalston/Stokie/Hackney but can't afford it
  
• you don't mind people hanging around as long as they don't bother you
  
  

You might be nuts if you have kids and need to consider schools. I don't have kids so can't say, but I do know that both our neighbours raised kids here and they seem pretty sucessful.

I've lived here for seven years and it has changed a lot in the last two years or so. There are artists' communities East and West of here and we are seeing more people and events coming out from that. But it's gone up and down in the past as well. I would not recommend anyone moving here planning to hang in with gritted teeth until it becomes the next Church Street. You must be confident you will be happy here as it is.

Seven Sisters suits us. We wanted a house with a garden not a flat, and decided that living somewhere too small for us would make us more miserable than living somewhere down at heel. We have good friends and neighbours here, we use the local shops, we enjoy having a choice of local parks and we don't eat out every week so we don't mind having to wakl/bike/bus it a bit when we do. But the lack of care some people have for the place they live does depress us sometimes. We have to remind ourselves that we only see the effects from the ignorant minority because the results hang around.

We moved from a rented flat in Finsbury Park a few years before FP took a lurch up the social scale. At the time, our budget would have bought a non-garden 2 bed or a garden 1 bed flat in FP, or a house in Seven Sisters. We didn't think FP was significantly nicer than Seven Sisters enough to justify the lack of space.

If you 've got any specific questions feel free to ask.

Strong post. Seven Sisters is brilliantly connected but a bit shabby, we considered it but house prices were just a little high for us (and when I say house I mean an actual house; the trade off for moving there would have been to get a whole terrace)

Our vendor has FINALLY offered on a chain-free place, might actually move into our new gaff before the end of summer

Seven Sisters - definitley money being spent, get it while you can afford it. Have a look at Haringey Online website for threads about changes to the area.

I think that's Harringay Online (one of those slightly confusing features is that there's Harringay and Haringey). Not sure whereabouts on West Green Road you're looking but there's quite a lot going on around Green Lanes area which isn't too near and it's becoming fairly up and coming.

The area between Chestnuts Park and Green Lanes has got a lot smarter over the past few years. The area between Chestnuts Park and the High Road (my bit) is lagging that, probably because the houses are smaller and it's benefitting less from the changes around Green Lanes. But it is noticably tidier than a few years ago.

One thing I didn't say and should have - prices are definitely rising throughout the area, and it's showing up in sold prices so not just optimistic asking prices. I don't expect Seven Sisters to get cheaper again unless there is an overall housing slowdown/slump.

The area between Chestnuts Park and Green Lanes has got a lot smarter over the past few years.

This, very much so, this is where I bought my flat, and whilst parts of it can still be a bit sketchy, it's certainly a lot nicer than it once was.

Broken Betty sums it up perfectly, and I did the same thing (FP to Turnpike Lane) - 6 years in the area and the changes are happening daily. A lot of things not right (2 x new "cash converters") in the last year - but "Jam in the Jar" has just opened on green Lanes - so an alternative to the Salisbury

I lived on Hermitage Road for a while, it was as has been pointed out not a great area to hang around, but it served my purpose at the time- somewhere cheap to sleep.

We never got broken into, which was nice, neither did any member of the household get mugged on the way home (which was better than when we lived in Islington).

I think that's Harringay Online (one of those slightly confusing features is that there's Harringay and Haringey). Not sure whereabouts on West Green Road you're looking but there's quite a lot going on around Green Lanes area which isn't too near and it's becoming fairly up and coming.

Obviously that should be Green Lanes isn't too far.

Soooooo I've just had a second viewing and will be putting in an offer on a one bed in Peckham in the morning. Just doing my research as to reasons for why I can offer 10 grand less than the asking price- and am debating whether to require that, if my offer is accepted, they should take the property off the market. Does it make me less attractive as a buyer? I've got a lot going for me in other respects- FTB, teacher, local, flexible with moving and completion dates etc.

There should be no debate. If they accept your offer then you should demand they take the property off the market.

Yes but asking for them to do that might make them less likely to accept my offer in the first place?

I doubt it very much. It's a standard request.

OK, thanks!