Owning your own home

Give the managing agent a ring and ask?

I don't know who he is yet - must get onto the solicitor about that.

There is probably good money to be made in becoming the "LFGSS Recommended" builder.

I can recommend a very good chippy who also does smaller building jobs. Based in West London if anyone is interested.

Building jobs and dinner FTW.

For South London roofing, etc, these chaps are down my road, and have always been good. I'm not sure that they'll bother with bidding for jobs, as they've always got enough work on though.

E Jackson & Co - https://plus.google.com/110498578639117940284/about?gl=uk&hl=en

Cheers, will see how it goes. May not need another quote but good to know there are decent firms out there.

Not a home-owning question, but this seems to be the most appropriate place.

Our contract for the flat is about to run out, 2 weeks to go. We're yet to hear from the landlord re staying for another year, and they're yet to hear from us. What's our rights if we just keep schtum and stay on? We've done it before for 6 months, and after that the landlord just sent a new contract to sign, but now that we have a kid I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I've read through the contract but it doesn't say anything about it

Should switch to a rolling contract (periodic tenancy iirc), both parties still need to give notice, landlord is required to give two months (section 21 notice iirc).

If neither party takes action your tenancy becomes a Statutory Periodic Tenancy. To terminate it you have to give one period's notice (1 month from the day of the month you pay your rent) the landlord has to give you two.

If you don't like the sound of potentially being out at two months' notice you'll need to sign a new agreement.

better than expected, thanks for the advice!

And the two months' notice by the landlord must expire at the end of one of the periods of the tenancy, something many landlords get wrong. So if the tenancy started on the 29th October 2012, and if you pay rent monthly on 29th day of each month, and your tenancy expires on the 28th October 2013, the notice must not only require possession on a date at least 2 months after it is served, but must require possession on a day which is the 28th day of the month (HA88, s.21(4)).

anyone got a recommendation of a plumber to sort out a boiler?

Has anyone here gotten around to renegotiating the lease on their flat? Is it worth it using a solicitor? It seems like something one could try to do oneself, but it's a murky process so a stitch in time etc...

And has anyone got tips about surveyors that:
1) don't charge the world
2) won't overprice my flat

Ours was good. I think.
Though I'm puzzled how improvements to the estate we're hoping to get into will detrimentally affect the market value of our potential flat.

Has anyone here gotten around to renegotiating the lease on their flat? Is it worth it using a solicitor? It seems like something one could try to do oneself, but it's a murky process so a stitch in time etc...

And has anyone got tips about surveyors that:
1) don't charge the world
2) won't overprice my flat

Ask some neighbours if they've done it. Using an agent that's familiar with the building and freeholder is your best bet.

It's perfectly possible to do it yourself, but if an agent has done it before they'll be quicker, maybe more successful and shouldn't charge much.

We're thinking of moving house. Estate Agent fees seem completely ridiculous compared to amount of work required (or at least, the amount I imagine is required, perhaps I'm missing something). I know that there's depreciation on your Mini One and wear and tear on your shiny suit, but even so...

Having said that, I suspect that they can bring some value which would have a monetary impact but I don't really know how to assess how much.

Has anyone tried using a flat price service (something like housesimple.co.uk?)Any good / bad experiences? Is there anymore to do than just arranging the viewings?

Depends on time frame, no? You could always try listing for a scum-free sale and if you don't get offers near what you want, go to an agent. No good if you're in a hurry to sell though. Then again, you won't get max if you're in a hurry anyway.

You can try to grade your fee to incentivise them. take the price you would like, 0.5% under this and 5% on everything over....or whatever works.

0.5%. I may not mind if they could be negotiated down to that. The first one just told me with a straight face that it would be 3%!

If you buy a Mini One you deserve everything you get

Offered on a Warner flat in Walthamstow this morning. Waiting to hear from the agent. Suspect it won't be accepted.

Walthamstow was in the Where To Buy Standard column last week:

http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/greater-london/spotlight-walthamstow-property-area-guide

Offered on a Warner flat in Walthamstow this morning. Waiting to here from the agent. Suspect it won't be accepted.

Which configuration and on what street?

Two bed ground floor flat on Wetherden Street.

Cool, good luck!