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Martin Lewis Blog: 'House offer accepted, now they want £20,000 more! What should I do?'
A passer-by stopped Martin in the street recently to ask his opinion on her house buying dilemma. You can check out his view in a video he posted: Martin Lewis: 'House offer accepted, now they want £20,000 more! What should I do?' What would you do? Stand your ground? Walk away? Pay the extra? Negotiate? Tell us your…
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New to the House Buying, Selling & Renting board? Start here
✅ This board is for... * Questions about buying or selling a home * Questions about renting a home * Questions about being a landlord 🚫 This board is not for.. * Debating the state of the economy * Debating house prices in general * Political debates Note: In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place…
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Tenancies in Eng/Wales: Guides for landlords and tenants
post 1 This thread is intended to provide information to both landlords and tenants relating to Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales. Updated April 2020 to include the Coronavirus Act 2020 and July 2020 to include the Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020. Topics covered: Post 2: Repairing…
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Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
My FIL is buying a one bed flat in Surrey that is a converted semi detached house with two flats. His one is the bottom flat. It is a leasehold property but the freeholder, a company, doesn't seem to get involved and the two neighbours sort their own repairs and maintenance out. There is no service charge. The property is…
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Received Section 21/6A Notice
Hi all. Had our two month notice served a couple weeks back with a date to vacate of 6th May. I spoke to the estate agents who manage it for the landlord that we were looking to buy now and can we maybe get an extension, they came bac to say it is possible but would need to see proof etc. We had an offer accepted on a…
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How do I challenge a housing association rent increase?
Hi all, I have just moved into an "affordable rent" home, and after a month (in April), the respective housing association will put the rent up by 6%, which seems twice as much as consumer price inflation (CPI), which eased to 3.0% in January 2026 I believe, so that is concerning. According to my tenancy agreement, my rent…
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Conveyancing quote
For my leasehold house will a conveyancor be suitable for the job? (The buyer does not require a lease extension) The quotes provided include the following item and I am wondering whether there are any item missing? eg management company pack Sale Legal Fees Legal Fees VAT at 20% Supplements Leasehold Fee TT Fee VAT at 20%…
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Private CCTV in communal area
I would appreciate any advice regarding the use of private CCTV in a communal area. The situation involves a housing association property comprising six flats. A resident in one of the ground floor flats has installed a CCTV camera in his window, which appears to cover the front garden, entrance, and gate. My partner is…
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Stamp Duty Question
Hi, I have a question regarding stamp Duty. I currently have a buy to let on personal names (myself and wife) We currently live with parents We are purchasing a new property for £450,000 The plan is to sell the buy to let and only own the new property. In the current situation Do i need to pay the additional stamp duty or…
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SDLT Query on sale and purchase
Hi all, I'm after some advice please as ive just received an email from my conveyancer that has well and truly stumped me and I'm struggling to find a straight answer anywhere! My partner and I brought out home 7 years ago - due to health issues (Partner now retired on ill health grounds)and an age gap in our relationship…
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New "Have a Look at This" thread
The other one has disappeared and any posts I have made are not listed in either my posts or thanks. This thread is for things like: . Spotting pets in properties . Anything awful - decor, extensions etc . Quirky properties . Timewarp properties . Properties in serious repair and anything which is different and of interest…
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Housing Association Bathroom Refit?
I am aged 72, my HA want to refit the bathroom, in what used to be an age related rental property, now it seems anyone considered "vulnerable" are allowed. They are coming to survey next week and I asked on the phone if they were replacing the current bath "like for like", or if a walk-in shower could be fitted due to my…
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Council Tax - What if my partner moves into the annexe?
In short, our house has a furnished annexe, with a separate kitchen and bathroom and (which may be important) a separate entrance door but which is only one step away from our main door. Both me and my husband are registered as owners of the house and the annexe. We have always received two council tax bills, for each part…
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Sellers solicitor holding things up
My son is buying his first home, a flat in Birmingham. The process began end of October but is still being held up by the sellers solicitor. He accepts that the extra searches re leases, cladding safety etc for flats takes a bit longer but we feel this is getting ridiculous. The latest feedback from his solicitor is that…
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Dampness readings in property
We are in the process of buying a property and the survey has returned some dampness readings as high as 38% in a couple areas! They have mentioned there is no visual signs of dampness so they recommend monitoring the situation only. The rest of the survey was very positive with only minor work required, which we wouldn't…
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Quick home insurance question...
I'm renewing my home insurance, I told the insurer in the online chat that there had been signs of cracking in the walls since the last renewal. They refused to renew. I'm now looking elsewhere and am a little confused about the terminology. Should I answer yes to this question? Has an insurer ever declined, cancelled,…
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When (if?) to tell buyer about... idiosyncrasies?
Selling an inherited house. Well, subject to everything checking out, it has been sold. When do you tell the buyer about things like the oven cooker hood light switch turning on the fan at the same time (it's not supposed to!) or about that one window you just can't find the key for… Their surveyor has done his survey -…
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How much does it cost to move?
I have a flat here in the South East, valued at 240k. Outstanding mortgage is 60k. How much do I need to budget for moving costs? Solicitors 5k? mortgage broker, Haysto 1600 Moving removals 5 mile move 1k? Stamp duty? selling for 240k and buying for 265k? anything else I've forgotten….. thanks
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How to approach future purchase
So I had a seller pull out with a week to go in 2025 and six weeks ago I pulled out due to due about pets in the house. Looking for some advice the agent knows I have the funds as I sent proof of this over but how might I explain the ocd to them. Or if it’s the same agent how will they deal with me again? I have had…
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Mortgage
Convencer just told me my case has been forwarded to the Compliance Team, do I need to worry or the process is progressing
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Rent increase - what is reasonable?
I rent a flat to my friend, they have been renting it since August 2023. Since then I have never increased the rent, however I am about to be made redundant and wondering whether I should consider increasing their rent, in line with inflation. I want to keep the rate good for them, I do it privately and we are close so…
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Management fee overpayment
I have just managed to reduce my costs to the managment company where I live as I spotted the lease excludes my flat from paying charges for the rental costs of extra land used for parking for the flats, and leased to the management company by a third party. My flat does not use this land but has use of parking behind the…
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Solicitor inappropriate questions?
My daughter in law (E) is buying her first house. I myself have moved many times, and worked as an estate agent back in the 90s, and am puzzled by things that are happening to her, causing her some distress. 1. The solicitor has asked for access (via the banking app) to her and her husband’s bank accounts. In the first…
