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Conservation area
Hi Wondered how this works? I bought a house which is in a conservation area. At the same time I bought a small, adjoining plot of land outside the conservation area. Am I able to put a garden room on this plot of land without being subject to any conservation area restrictions? Any thoughts welcome. Thanks
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Stamp duty query
Sorry if this has been answered before but I've been looking and not yet found an answer to this scenario. We are in the process of moving house and I'm trying to work out a definitive stamp duty amount. Our current house is solely in my name (we married several years after I purchased it) and the mortgage payments are…
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Stamp Duty Calculation When Adding Partner to Property (Remortgage + Cash Contribution)
Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone can clarify how the stamp duty consideration should be calculated in this situation. I currently own a property in my sole name. * Current mortgage: £172,000 * We’re remortgaging to clear this, and at the same time adding my partner as a 50/50 tenant in common. * My partner is…
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To buy in a chain or not?
Hi, There's 4 flats available in a development. The best one (also the largest and cheapest) is in a chain of 4-5. The other three aren't, smaller, but are all chain free. My worry is that if I go for that one and the chain fails I'll probably lose out on the others as they will have sold by then. Do you think it's worth…
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Final week of estate agent contract
I'm in the final week of an estate agent contract...and will be booking a new agent. They have done nothing for the previous 2 months, with zero viewings. I have a feeling that part of their strategy is to benefit from the new agents hard work, by giving them a list of any potential buyers they many have emailed, which…
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Stamp Duty on additional property
Hi - hoping for some advice on stamp duty rules. I am currently living overseas in a rental property, my home in England is currently rented out. I will move back to the UK in December, and move back into my home for 2 months. I will then buy and move into a new build, and I accept that I will pay 2nd home tax as well as…
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Ground rent reforms
What is the current situation with ground rent reforms for properties with old leases? My FIL is interested in a retirement bungalow which has 61 years left on the lease but it has ground rent of £564pa (in Surrey so that makes it an AST).
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Park home on a residential site & Probate. Any pointers/pitfalls
Hi all I'm valuing my late father's estate for probate. He, like many retirees bought a park home on a residential park, not a holiday park (important distinction) and pays a ground rent to the park owners. Because of it's relatively low value, it's considered a chattel (an asset), not a conventional property. I'm guessing…
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Faulty Roof
Our house is 5 years old. We brought it second hand 3 years ago. Briefly - We had solar panels fitted to our tiled roof. This resulted in damage to roof tiles (although prior to this tiles were coming off due to high winds) and daylight showing through the roof. Contacted solar panel installer, said the fixings used to…
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House Clearance firms
Hopefully in the final throes of selling my late parents’ house. Proposed entry date of end of October. I have cleared most of the contents but what is left now are the bigger furniture items so need a house clearance done. I’ve got three quotes with a huge difference in price. First one was just over £1400 and would take…
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Next Door's Cheek
My Dad recently passed away. He let his neighbours keep their hot dog van on his drive for 'a few weeks', (t was never moved or used, they just stored it there), it must have been there for about 5 years now, but he said he didn't mind. We are now in the process of sorting his house and want to get the estate agent around…
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Parents selling the house to us
Hi myself and my partner are FTB. Her parents are planning to gift us £5000 towards the deposit. They have now suggested us buying their house. It is probably worth around £300k (I would probably have the house valued for accuracy) but they have offered it to us for around £270k. I am aware that we could use this 10%…
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Second Home SDLT
Hi All, Sounding out before paying for legal advice but as a general question; When I bought my current main property I paid 2nd home SDLT as the previous house sale was delayed. Unfortunately or stupidly I thought I had three years to claim back when in fact the deadline is a year and I missed it. A very expensive…
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Reasonable to delay exchange and completion?
Currently at the 7/8 week mark since having my offer accepted and beginning the conveyancing process. FTB, vendors buying a vacant property with no mortgage, so things are moving quickly and I think we will be ready to exchange and agree completion soon. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I've now got to have an operation…
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Single person cheapest way of living
What's the cheapest way to live in order to keep saving money? I would guess its as a lodger with friend or family with all bills included Although this would mean sharing facilities, maybe you would get an en suite bathroom and microwave in the room. After that I guess a self contained annexe maybe from a converted…
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First time buyer money from family abroad (for deposit) AML checks
Hi all My daughter and son in law now want to buy their first home together (currently renting) My son in laws family have offered to help with the deposit or money towards the house (around £70k) We are obviously aware of anti money laundering issues and want to ensure things don't get held up etc. Just wondered at this…
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Previous conveyancer failed to register title
Morning, I was hoping someone may be able to give me a pointer at what to do about this. I bought my flat 4 years ago and have recently agreed a sale. Whilst completing the first part of the conveyancing, my conveyancer advised me the property was not registered in my name, rather the owner before. I dug out the details of…
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Shared ownership
If I lend my son the cash to purchase 30% share of a property on a shared ownership scheme can he mortgage it afterwards to pay me back. Just trying to speed up the purchase process as he has to move out of his rented flat in two months
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Rent increases after Section 21?
Hello everyone, I've recently been asked to leave my long-term rental and have been issued the S21. I actually posted here about it here and received some good advice. In brief, the situation is: I can't afford to move out. I can afford my current reasonable rent, but not what is being asked for on the market now for…
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Building Control Question…Fireboarding on lintel.
I wondered if anyone could advise please? We have a garage attached to our house. You can get through the back of the garage through a door to the garden. Above that door is a lintel. Above the garage is a bedroom etc. On the lintel is some fire board…just the width on the lintel. Does that need building control sign off…
