Owning your own home

Woah.

(needs bike storage)

Wow! Awesome.

Holy shit thats nice.

Thanks, that's more concise than the moneysavingexpert threads I've been trawling.

@Fox Maybe I'll wait a bit longer to come get those tyres and bring my loofer and rubber duck.

That whole thing looks wicked but that bath!

For that in Forest Gate you'd get a beautiful big place in the 'village' area right near Wanstead Flats. Not sure there's quite enough in Forest Gate now to make it a proper sought-after location but it's got some really nice housing, countryside, a very decent pub, great Indian/Pakistani good nearby, an anti fascist football club and a craft beer shop...

Crossrail etc is only going to make it better as well.

Yeah - I was looking at the Sweet Factory in Wanstead.

I might take a trip down there next weekend.

Thanks,

PM me if you're around. I think I'm going to the Clapton FC game on Saturday if you want to sample the local culture, I'll probably be going to the Forest Tavern after.

I'm away this weekend but I might take you up on that - apparently Oceano has shut down, so still a little gutted about that!

Cheers!

Why don't we have a lawn mowers thread?

honda izzy 55cm self propelled

#threadends

Not sure I can justify a petrol mower for our 8x3m lawn. I never liked electric mowers but it just seems like one might be the most appropriate.

Do you even Heuwender?

1 Attachment

http://www.sam-turner.co.uk/garden_machinery/flymo-1200r-robotic-mower.html?sel=6861&fo_c=603&fo_k=f053fb866237ba8828f664da09657070&fo_s=gplauk&gclid=CP7i8YK5ucQCFaPJtAodMB0Ang#.VQ1j0o6sXpo

haywinder, like it!

pfft, for what, a postage stamp that seems to be the average garden aspiration for the new middle class

People on here buy titanium and carbon bicycles for popping to the pub.

Anyone lease a property too a housing association?

Ive had a empty property now for nearly a year due to lack of money as it needs a fairly big cash injection and wouldn't rent it out, though I could

Then found this last night

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/10027/empty_properties/5584/owning_an_empty_home/4
Rent your empty property
You might be able to get a regular income from your empty property by leasing it to a housing association.

If your property has been empty for more than six months, we can ask a housing association to assess the condition of the property and the estimated rental income. If eligible, you can lease your property to the housing association for up to six years. In this time, they will make any necessary repairs to bring it up to a habitable standard, rent the property out and manage the tenancy and the property. They will find tenants and will usually cover any periods when the property may be empty, so you'll still receive your payment.

How will you get your rent money?
The housing association will decide what work is required to bring your property up to standard. You will receive a guaranteed rental income, calculated after any repair and management costs are deducted. You will get this monthly, direct to your bank account or, if eligible, in a lump sum at the beginning of the lease period.

See how much your empty property could be earning you by using our lease and repair calculator. You need to know roughly how much it would cost in repairs to get the home up to a good, ready-to-rent, standard; and the average rent that similar properties in the area go for. Check letting-agency websites to get an idea of local rent levels.

If you have a mortgage on the empty property, your mortgage lender would need to approve you entering into the lease agreement. The rental income can be paid directly to your mortgage lender if necessary.

Lease terms may be negotiated to suit requirements for you and the housing association.

You will benefit from:
Guaranteed rental income
No commission or set-up costs
Renovation of the property to a quality standard
No day-to-day landlord responsibilities
A full property management service including gas and electricity checks and buildings insurance
Repairs service
No responsibility for council tax charges
Free from empty property enforcement proceedings
Property returned to you at the end of the lease-term in a good condition
Time to consider and decide upon a longer-term solution for your empty property

Some thoughts from The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/guaranteed-rents-for-landlords-wheres-the-catch-477475.html

Im also paying full council tax, years back youd only pay halve, my local council said it's down to making people not have empty props

Surprised you've not had squatters.

Thought about having some squatters in (Students)

Though all I could think of was this

At least Id be exempt from council tax

Saw the robot lawnmower when we were out shopping but I'm only really interested if it can chase cats.

Im also paying full council tax, years back youd only pay halve

How come you don't get same discount as single occupancy?

Its vacant, so been billed the full amount as I live elsewhere

Thinking of telling the council that I live in both properties

Not sure if the'll buy it though?

That's a clever idea. Not as clever as discussing committing fraud on an internet forum though.

Not fraud.

As I do actually stay in the property sometimes as I'm renovating it, so I have bedding and food in the property though it's not my main home

Of what is I'll explain to the council