Owning your own home

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partf

'replacement windows'

well blow me, regulation overturned, no longer a requirement..

Also, you can check if they are Fensa registered
http://www.fensa.co.uk/asp/member_search.asp

Obvs try to get the company to do it, but if they won't trickle vents are only a few quid each and are easy to fit.

Bummer!

Search show not results so they it her made it up or Fensa's database is not properly updated. Gonna call this Monday Morning and will let you know. Thanks for all your help @Sumo

Quite good at DIY but never tackled any project whose catastrophic failure would mean ruining something that costed several thousands of pounds. Any manuals or tutorials on these @Hefty ?

I wouldn't touch a think about them until you get them signed off by building control.

Is that standard procedure? Just asking as I don't think it was mentioned when gf asked for approval from local planning department...

You've needed either a FENSA certificate or building regs since 2002 I think. If the firm haven't supplied the certificate you'll need the council's building inspector to come out and check them for the appropriate markings on the glass and thermal efficiency.

As you say, call the firm first and go from there.

Purely hypothetical, but what would you guys do if you had to move to Germany? I have a friend who said she'd move into my flat, and I'd likely charge her under market rates just to cover my mortgage and service charge. Could I have them as a lodger and keep the flat as my official address, still paying council tax etc, and just get a place in Germany separately? It's likely I'd be back and forward a bit anyway. Would that be the simplest option? Or does that break tax rules or something similar? I don't really want to go the whole landlord option because I'm allergic to paperwork, but I'd also want to do it all above board.

As I say, completely hypothetical...

Your girlfriend is moving in you say?....

You need to decide where you will be resident and pay your taxes accordingly, you can only pick one. Talk to an accountant who knows Germany as their taxes are quite different to the UK, which is best will depend on your exact situation.

If your friend knows you are abroad and pays you rent she is actually required to deduct basic rate income tax from it, unless you're formally registered as a non resident landlord. Google NRL1i for starters.

Where in Germany? Free forum holiday to the alps?

with windows, yes. Mostly to show they have the right U value or have safety glass if ground floor or in a door etc.

You still have to pay tax over a certain amount from money paid by lodgers, so probably still will have to show it on self-assessment.
https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme

Being a tax resident in germany is complex and usually required an accountant to help so i'd try to keep yourself living in the uk for tax purposes as possible.

When you normally rent in germany you need to prove you're a resident/register at a police station so hard to pretend you're still living in the uk unless you use airbnb long term.

To still be a uk resident you need to spend half the year in the uk (flying days can count for which every country you choose i think)

I'd say go for it. Rent your place out to cover your mortgage, don't bother declaring it as income, paper works not worth it. I'm usually pretty honest with stuff and dead into paying my taxes but if things are set up badly and a big hassle I'd bin em off. It's rarely checked up on.

what if we get a negative result, I pretty much doubt that ground floor is safety glass as they even forgot to get the bathroom windows frosted and ended up putting a fricking sticker, pretty poor job overall...

It's not particularly badly setup, if you gain money from renting out property you declare it in your self-assessment and then the tax is worked out (in uk at least), anything else is tax evasion.

germany is complex

.

Possibly not the best place for someone who's allergic to paperwork ;)

I have no interest in anything accounts/tax based. I can't be bothered to do a single thing. It bores me too much. I've been owed money before but haven't been bothered to claim it, so it's a two way street. Life's too short to spend one second doing paper work. Colour me a tax evader, but that's just like, your opinion man.

I thought you were a freelancer? adding income from being a landlord is a only about 3 or 4 extra boxes to fill out; but agreed, most don't love doing it.

Are they a member of fensa or not. Work that out first.

How was it paid for? IF it was by credit card you are laughing.

Colour me a tax evader, but that's just like, your opinion man.

We could call you a Non Dom if you'll like a different name to Tax Avoider.

After all, every one loves a Non Dom.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/responsibilities/buildingregulations/failure

"First, if a person carrying out building work contravenes the Building Regulations, the local authority may prosecute them in the Magistrates' Court where an unlimited fine may be imposed (sections 35 and 35A of the Building Act 1984). Prosecution is possible up to two years after the completion of the offending work. This action will usually be taken against the person carrying out the work (builder, installer or main contractor)."

If you were to rent the flat it would invalidate your insurance if you failed to notify your lender. If you tell your lender they will increase your mortgage rate cos it's a rented property and the rules are different. On the other hand if you are popping back and you still pay the bills I dunno how they'd find out.

Hmm. So, basically, an enormous headache all round. I hate this stuff.