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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for January 2022

Radiator issue, please help!!
Hi, I wondered if anyone might be able to help me with a radiator issue I have. When I turn the heating on the radiators upstairs work perfectly, but the ones downstairs don’t get hot only mildly warm if that. If I turn all my radiators off upstairs, they then work and get hot downstairs. I’ve had a plumber out twice now…
Tree Surgeon Cost
Hi, Anyone informed on tree removal costs? Two tree surgeons came out to remove 5 medium trees (hazelnut and holly and beach trees) and 2 small beach trees. They were here 2.5 hours. They chipped it all and it filled up their van. Is £500 including vat reasonable. I know there must be cost of disposing and tools/equipment…
Pest control
Hi there, One of our neighbours has informed us that they have found some rat holes on their side of the fence near their BBQ and their BBQ cover has been shredded. Our neighbour has informed us that this is our problem/we are the cause and we need to sort it out. We have attempted to explain that there is nothing in our…
Triple or double glazing? A or A+?
Hi, I'm looking to get new windows fitted to a reasonably well-insulated bungalow in the Scottish Highlands, which currently has timber-framed windows, which have seen better days. The noise where I live isn't an issue, but I figure that I should really invest in decent windows. So, to that extent, should I go for triple…
Neighbour want to install fence on her land and claiming full payment via small claims courts
Hello, we're responsible for the fencing as per title deed. The fence has been in a state of disrepair, mostly broken and rotten (overgrown ivy). We've been saving up to get the whole fencing replaced and we're ready to get it sorted. A few years ago our neighbour installed 4 concrete posts on her land at the bottom end of…
Replacing Floor Boards with Plywood
Hi all, One of those snowball "while we're doing this we may as well do that" scenarios (haha). I've ripped the cupboard out in our hallway. This has left us with a patch of no laminate flooring and bare floorboards. Also, at the same time, I have fitted a vertical radiator in the hallway to save space as soon as we walk…
Help with smoke/heat alarms - hardwired/battery or a combination of both
Hi, in Scotland legislation effective tomorrow requires that every home has interlinked smoke alarms and these must be interlinked with a heat alarm in the kitchen. Currently I have 2 wired in alarms in the bottom hallway and one in the top hallway. They are not interlinked. I need to replace them with interlinked alarms…
Wayleave electricity poles negotiation
Hoping people will be able to share their experiences to help: we've been offered a wayleave agreement for a high voltage overhead wire and three poles on our property and it seems low. Weston Power has valued the property fairly reasonably but then offered what amounts to 0.03% of that value as a lump sum for a 14 year…
Black Mould
We have black mould on the ceiling of our bedroom - it appears to be due to condensation rather than from the roof - it is up against the wall on the sloping part that I believe is non insulated and is directly below the tiles ! We use a mains dehumidifier and have done for years - but, for some reason, this year, we have…
Loft Flooring Advice for Newbie
Hi Community, I recently had an entire Chimney stack removed (2 x Chimney breasts - one in the living room and one in the bedroom AND the chimney on the roof). The loft is a mess - dust and black soot in many places, bricks scattered in random places, insulation curled and full of dust etc. In fact, here is a video I took…
Can I have 2 Nest thermostats in a single zone heating system?
Hi, I currently have a Nest thermostat located in my living room for my single zoned heating system. This is great, but when we go to bed it’s normally cold in the bedroom and we normally increase the temperature in the living room before we go to bed in the aim to heat the bedroom. Is it possible to add another Nest…
Walls and Ceilings Repair in Victorian flat
Hi, I plan to do some renovations in a 1900s purpose-built flat in a Victorian-style terraced home. The builder noted some cracks in the walls and ceiling and recommended a full repair with plasterboard and skimming, but said the coving would be lost in the process. Do the cracks look that bad? I'm new to lath and plaster…
Where to get specific advice for retrofitting insulation
I'm living in a 70s chalet style house, so all of the upstairs is in the roof. It's poorly insulated and draughty - there's some fibreglass but also many areas of the roof/eaves/walls with nothing. I'm looking to put in more solid + soft insulation, and in terms of the work involved + Scottish building regs that all seems…
Damage new boiler by slightly increasing mains water pressure?
We had a new boiler installed by a nationwide portal in November and are really happy with the Worcester Bosch itself and also the service provided, which extended to them sending another plumber out recently to deflect the flue which was dripping directly onto our electric charge point. Anyway, with our old boiler, we…
Gas and water in unoccupied property
I am currently in possession of my late mother's property and it will remain empty until sold in a few months (hopefully). I spoke with the home insurance and the policy is now in my name. The underwriter requires the heating system is drained which I have done, and the property is checked weekly internally and externally.…
Securing wardrobe to wall
Hey I have a plasterboard wall with no studs behind ( dob and Dab) and I need to secure quite a talk IKEA wardrobe to the wall. Personally I hate drilling into walls as you never know about pipes and wirea so I prefer to use self drilling wall plugs as this can be done manually so less force to go into wires etc. Will…
Floorboard Rot and Neighbor negligence?
Hi all We noticed one section in our laminate floor dipping when walked on, so I went under the floorboards and discovered the area has a foam all over it - Google thinks it could either be wet or dry rot. It's not covered by the insurance, and internet estimates suggest it could be in the £4K-£8K realm to fix, depending…
Pest control (mice) - worried I did something stupid
Woke up to scrabbling noise this morning, noticed there is a gap between skirting board and carpet and that some carpet looks gnawed. I have called landlord and let them know - we had a mouse problem in this block of flats a couple months ago so presumably some escaped the pest control guy. However in a moment of…
Drawer Runners
Hi there, I was just looking at some drawer runners and I wanted to get an idea of how they work so that I can use them correctly and get the ones right for the purpose. So, in this link, sold at Screwfix: https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-bottom-fix-drawer-runners-349mm-2-pack/3350r Each drawer runner consists of two…
Understand switch wiring
We’ve a 3 gang switch controlling 3 areas of lights all on a one way basis. Have considered replacing it with a smart switch and so unscrewed the existing switch to check for a neutral (out of picture) but confused by the wiring which hopefully someone can make sense of… Each switch has a single wire into its “common” from…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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