KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Wow, lots going on - house purchases checked, rooms painted, and I'm loving the African donations. Especially when it's a local initiative, then you *know* it gets to the intended recipients

GQ, I'd no idea that a property was checked out like that by the council before it was passed on to another tenant. I suppose if people aren't as conscientious as your family, it means the council have to do it themselves, which result in higher council tax, eventually?

I was going to ask you about bonfires again - accelerant, actually. Do you use any particular "product" to help the bonfire start? Does anyone else? I'm definitely getting on with cutting down this laurel hedge of mine, gradually transferring the twiglets and heavy branches to the hardstanding at the front of my house - I'll offer it to local peeps, as suggested, but I'm wondering about what's left, and other stuff I have too....


ETA - Mavvy, we crossposted, so sorry to hear things are still so tough for you it sounds like you're right to pull back. Sending you positive, loving thoughts.

mavvymoo
So sorry about the loss of your companion and furry best friend, they leave such a huge gap in our lives when they have to leave us, shed loads of virtual hugs on the way to you.

Enjoy watching the fall-out from the local stuff, perhaps now at last people will realise just how much you have done for the locality. It is good to have a place such as this to vent one's feelings and disappointment.

OH and I have been away so much this summer, couple that with ill health means that little Kondoing has happened, but I am mentally ready to start up again, albeit at a slow pace.

I have now pretty much caught up with the thread, apologies for not having been able to offer any support or congratulations to people over the last few weeks, but I have been with you in spirit.

GQ
Condolences on the passing of your dear Nan, she sounds a lovely lady and will always be part of you. Try to avoid murdering the Aunt if at all possible - we would all miss you so much if you were banged up for murder:D I hope that the clearing of the bungalow works out in time and that the family are able to give her a lovely send off. Be aware that you may experience a bit of a crash health wise when this is all over and take care of yourself as best you can.

Mavvy


So sorry to hear about your dog, you have my sympathies - been there, had to do that.


I endorse what other people are saying, be good to yourself, and vent away here as necessary.


Likewise with GQ.


Thoughts and virtual hugs being sent to you, and anyone else who needs them.


H.

Slinky wrote: »

Oh my goodness, I don't believe it. Another property we're interested in (not the one near our previous aborted purchase), having been bitten once I'm now twice shy, I've just paid £6 and downloaded the title document for it. It appears to have similar issues to the one we've just pulled out of. This house is built behind another house in what was probably part of their garden. The original house appear to own the drive and we would have rights to pass across it....

Ho hum, bullet dodged there I think.

Having had another read of the title, I think I've read it the wrong way round. It's hard to work out when the names are all of people you have no idea who they are! I think it's the case where the drive is owned by the house we are interested in, and the neighbour had a right of way over it. However, further down it appears this right of way was 'extinguished' in 1982, so it looks like there may not be a problem after all.

Karmacat wrote: »

GQ, I'd no idea that a property was checked out like that by the council before it was passed on to another tenant. I suppose if people aren't as conscientious as your family, it means the council have to do it themselves, which result in higher council tax, eventually?

I was going to ask you about bonfires again - accelerant, actually. Do you use any particular "product" to help the bonfire start? Does anyone else? I'm definitely getting on with cutting down this laurel hedge of mine, gradually transferring the twiglets and heavy branches to the hardstanding at the front of my house - I'll offer it to local peeps, as suggested, but I'm wondering about what's left, and other stuff I have too....


ETA - Mavvy, we crossposted, so sorry to hear things are still so tough for you it sounds like you're right to pull back. Sending you positive, loving thoughts.

Save

There is absolutely no connection between council tax accounts and council tenancies. Different departments, different budgets, no possibility of cross-funding.

When a council property is handed back, there will have to be checks done and there may be some refurbishments necessary to bring a property up to scratch before it can be re-let. If said refurbishments are deemed as a result of reasonable wear and tear, the council landlord will absorb them and pay for them from its Housing Revenue Account (that's where the rents go).

If they are a result of accidental or deliberate damage, or the removal of fixtures and fittings, they are within their rights to bill the outgoing tenant or their estate. Whether they get the money back is another matter.

Also, if goods and refuse are left in the property or its garden, they have to be removed. This will be a two-part charge to the council; one fee for the removal (vat-able) plus another fee for the disposal of same (also vat-able). I have seen a whole house and garden clearance take 16 labour hours and be billed at nearly £2,000 before.

Councils also have to be very careful of things like lean-to buildings, sheds etc which are left on the grounds, as if they are still there when the property is re-let, they could be liable if they injured anyone and by having them there, the council is taking on continuing liability for repairs and perhaps even eventual replacement.

In certain circumstances, council inspectors may agree that some things can be left in the property, such as carpets in vgc (in pet free households) and window coverings. This is to benefit the incoming tenant, who may just keep them for a while until they can sort themselves out.

Council homes are rented unfurnished but the landlord is obviously responsible for the fixtures and fittings. HTH.

re bonfires, I don't use any accelerants. It really shouldn't be necessary at all and is potentially dangerous to you and polluting to the environment.

The key to bonfiring is to have everything as dry as possible so you may realistically have to leave things several weeks or even a couple of months or mor. The less moisture in the stuff, the easier it will ignite, the faster the burn and the less the smoke.

It's best to let the things get very dry, then make yourself a little bit of a fire bundle with crumbled newspaper, twigs and other small stuff and just set a match to it.

With bonfires, because a pile of timber can attract animals, I like to build the bonfire from scratch just before lighting it, so I know there are no little critters inside who risk becoming crispy critters.