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Removing wall in share-of-freehold flat
We'd like to remove an internal wall in our share-of-freehold flat. This would be done in accordance with building regulations and we'd advise the managing agents. No application has yet been lodged but already people are being sniffy – "Oh, they'll never allow that" – and so on. Can such an application really be opposed…
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Buying house with problem conservatory
Hi just after some advice. We went to view a house yesterday and we like everything about it, but we saw that the conservatory has some cracks in it and looks as though it is pulling away from the house. We would probably replace it anyway but I'm worried if we go ahead that we won't be able to get insurance, or pay a huge…
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Offer accepted, How long to wait for Initial draft contract pack from seller?
As questions above please
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What Might Happen to the House?
Sadly my Mum passed away earlier this week. I was living with her and will continue to live in her house for a bit. I'm curiously what could happen to the house. She had an interest only mortgage where she was only paying the interest each month with the help of benefits. So there is still a large sum to pay off. She was…
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Disconcerting gap between renting and buying - help needed
Hi all, I am currently in the process of buying a house and it's taking a little longer than anticipated (as these things usually do). I am a first time buyer so I was taking advice from the estate agent and the mortgage advisor. They told me that the purchase would be very quick because there were people waiting in the…
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Modern house designs and bathrooms
Is it really necessary for a 4-bed house to have 4 bathrooms/toilets? Is there anyone here who actually wants this sort of thing when buying a house? 4 bed house probably means 3-4 people. Why aren't 2 bathrooms enough? Surely they won't all be crapping or showering at once at any point in time!…
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Leasehold fees and the shock?
I'm well underway with a purchase of a leasehold flat. The estate agent was asked on my viewing of it - 1) what's the lease length? 2.) what are all fees surrounded with lease/ground rent. Now In my experience I know estate agents are incompetent. But these take the cup. The hound me for every bit of my purchasing…
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Spending whilst waiting for offer
Not sure if this is the right place to post this! We have just had our mortgage approved in principle and now the full application has gone in and split or instructed. We are hoping to go abroad after 2 long years of saving after this process is all done, fingers crossed! Flights are cheap now, will it affect our mortgage…
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Clarification on CGT for ex marital home.
Hi All. We purchased a house in Dec 1981 for £18,000 with extension work in 1988 which took the mortgage value to £33,000. We split up in May 2001 with me moving away from the property and we subsequently divorced. The mortgage was fully paid up by myself in 2011. The property has just been sold (May 2017) for £240,000 and…
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Student Tenancy
I have a discrepancy with my student accomodation. I resided within a cluster flat with 5 others. We have been handed a replacement charge for a damaged sofa. Although the sofa was already damaged before i arrived as we rarely ever used it we never thought to bring it up. Now the sofa is 2-3 years old and we have to…
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Money Moral Dilemma: How do I ask my flatmate's girlfriend to chip in more?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My flatmate has his girlfriend round a lot, which I don't have a problem with generally. We often cook and eat together, take turns to buy drinks for the flat etc, but she rarely contributes - only my flatmate does. I don't want to make it awkward but I think she should chip…
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How to start renting from far away?
I live several hundred miles away from where I want to move to (Wiltshire). I can find properties to rent easily enough through Internet searches. Speaking to one letting agency, they say I have to visit a property before I can take it on. These properties go quickly so by the time I can drive down, the property is likely…
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First Home
Hi, we are due to exchange in the next few weeks with a completion date mid July. In terms of getting utility providers etc ready. What steps would you advise/take? Does anyone have a checklist?
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How can i get out of a landlord managment contract with my estate agent
I signed up with an estate agent, who take quite a percentage of the rent on my property in exchange for a management service. Over the period of the tenancy, as a landlord I have struck up a nice rapport with my tenants who treat my house with respect. They want a more long term tenancy, but the contract with the estate…
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Owed rent by tenants
Hi Not sure if this is the right board. Please let me know if it isn't. A friend took out a section 8 against a tenant and judgement was granted for eviction and to pay their arrears . They have now left the property but have not paid. It took months to evict them. My friend applied for earnings attachment order which was…
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Notice to terminate a tenancy by email?
I was wondering if an email would be as valid as a regular letter to terminate my tenancy? My tenancy agreement says below: The above indicates I should send a letter but the whole process including signing contract etc was handled electronically. The EAs used electronic signatures for everything, so the way I see it I…
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Will we have to pay the 3% stamp duty surcharge
Hello I'd be ever so grateful if anyone can clarify our situation. I own a property that I purchased in 2007 and lived in until 2013. In April 2013 I moved into a rented property with my partner, and rented out the property. We now have the option to buy our rented house or buy another house but I'm not sure whether I'd be…
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Stamp duty on new home when owning a BTL
Hi, My partner and I are planning on purchasing a house soon after selling our main residential property. However, he owns a third of a BTL house in N.Ireland that was inherited from his late mother. He shares it with his two siblings. Does this mean for the purposes of stamp duty that we have to pay the extra!? If so, we…
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Exchange on sale before exchange on purchase
Hi! I'd like to know your thoughts on exchanging on the sale prior to exchanging contracts for the purchase, Iv read all previous threads on this subject and it seems to be a big 'no' due to it being risky however, we are purchasing in a private sale from a family member who is as committed to the sale as we are - our…
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How to move ... the fishpond ?
Our buyer doesn't want the raised fishpond in the garden. Fortunately this isn't TOO large - based around a holding tank 2m by 1m by 0.6m high. Ie around a 1000l capacity. 3 moderate sized fish (8" or so), about 20 tiddlers - the three big ones were happy fish last year ... Any ideas how best to shift the whole lot (ok,…
