Owning your own home

Cheers, will get quotes :)

Made it further, but am gradually being drawn back :/

O I S removals in Herne Hill worked for me, but that was six years ago.

Only outstanding thing on our new place is that there is no FENSA cert for the windows that were installed this year. My understanding is that the seller can get indemnity insurance to cover this instead. Anyone had this issue?

We had this, there is a time limit that is in place, the windows have to be in place for more than 12 months (http://www.actlegal.co.uk/faq/buying-house-faqs/45/).

If not Building control will come out and inspect for a staggering cost...

Joy, they are under a year old. Why can't people just get things done properly!

How's the Heathrow noise down there?

That would be too easy...

I think the people we bought from had to pay about £300 to have them inspected by building control, but that was in the westcountry, so suspect it will be more in London

What did you say?

Should I get insurance for the buying process. If yes, who have people used?

Turns out council installed windows so no FENSA issued. Instead it'll have local authority cert so alls good.

Because the council are exempt from the law?

Regardless, it's bollocks, so whatever is the easiest work round is the best thing to do.

The Council would have had the work certified by building control so no need for FENSA

Can anyone recommend a contents insurer that will do proper bike cover?

I'm with Admiral and they'll cover inside and out of the home for specific bikes named on the policy...

Marks and Spencers.

Aviva.

I also have M&S

completed, boom

Thanks guys will check out Sparkies and Admiral.

@punkture Obligatory key shot on collection plz.

I'm considering getting a woodburner put in my living room. My chimney was completely removed by previous owners, so it will need to have a flu put straight up through the ceiling, all the way through the bedroom above, into the attic, and out the top somehow. so will be a pretty costly installation.

Just started looking at the actual stoves... Am amazed at how much they are! We thought we'd be able to get something fairly modern looking for sub £500... they all seem to be upwards of £1300 for nice looking ones!

I need to get a quote for installation, but am expecting it will end up costing at least £3k all in. Will it add anywhere near this kind of value to the house? Just seems difficult to justify spending that kind of money on something that may add no value, when i could spend it on tarting up the kitchen and it would easily boost the value of the property a fair bit.

I'd really like a woodburner, but not sure i want one enough to part with that sort of money.

Get one with a back boiler linked into your current hot water/central heating system if you can.

If you're in London (or another smoke control zone), won't you have to pick something from the exemption list anyway?

This sounds expensive. Not sure how it works? Does it need to be linked to the boiler? We have a combi, and it is about as far away in the house as you could get from where i want the stove!

Ah, relatives have a tank and the wood burner keeps it all toasty warm.

Unless your combi is an open vented style then forget it.