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Large Sign
A local put this on the side of his wall, does it need planning permission?It's a gap in a row of terraces and it looks rather threatening. I don't live there, asking for a friend.
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Found out house at risk of repossession 4 months after offer accepted
We are in the process of buying our first house which is chain free because it was being rented out to tenants. The tenants moved out a couple weeks ago and the house is now empty/vacant. We are 4 months into the house buying process and the sellers solicitors have not been fast with responding to enquiries and have been…
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Pressured by letting agency to sign contract within 5hrs; Incorrect info; no time to seek advice
(England) Was emailed a while ago by Letting Agency, informing me that Private Landlord wanted to increase rent and sign me into a new contract. I said I'd stay on (because difficult to find rentals), however I didn't write that I would accept the increase. Heard nothing until a few days ago on rent day. I dutifully paid…
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Is it true the % used of your credit card limit matters when calculating affordability?
I am going to be a First Time Buyer in about 6 months and currently getting my ducks in a row. I have a £6k balance on a £7k limit credit card. I've read that the % used of a credit card limit is important and that: 75% looks very bad 50% not great 30% ok I do have other credit cards with zero balance and good limits so I…
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landlord giving notice to end tenancy.
My landlord jacked up my rent from 700 to 900 a couple of months ago. I had indicated that was quite a leap and wasnt keen on this large increase. At the time he had suggested i move out and look for cheaper digs if it was a financial burden on me. We had exchanged emails a bit and he suggested i move out in 2 weeks and…
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Capital gains tax after separation
Hi, I am in a bit of a complicated situation re second property ownership with my former partner and whilst we are in the process of separating our assets I want to know where I stand re Capital gains tax. Background: My former partner and I currently own two properties: * Chester Property – our home, which we lived in…
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Applying for Planning Permission without owning the property
In March I sold my house through an estate agent to a buyer who was supposed to be a private cash buyer. It soon came apparent that the buyer was actually a business, but still it was meant to be bought for someone through their partners business. That again became a lie and I was led to believe it was either going to be…
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Discovered future planning application for new development at back of house we are buying
We are buying a house and fell in love with it because of the green space beyond the garden; a field with sheep. We have since discovered that a developer has an option on the land, that they consulted the house owners and neighbours in April (around the time we offered for the property). The estate agents keep telling us…
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Cleaning after plastering/decorating - who should be paying?
Hi all, My very first post, so hoping it goes well! My partner, her daughter and I have been living in our current rented home since last September through OpenRent. We've had a really good relationship with our landlord thus far and he's dealt with any issues promptly and without issue, but now we're heading for our first…
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Stamp Duty question
Hi I’m currently selling my main residence and have purchased a replacement property for £435000. My question relates to the fact that a few months ago my elderly parents signed their property over to me. Does this mean that the house that I am purchasing to live in is considered a second property. The rules state clearly…
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Using proceeds of wife's property sale to purchase new property as a first time buyer.
Hi all. I've got a bit of a niche situation and looking for some advice if possible. My wife had a mortgage on our first home in her name only as I was in the middle of an IVA at the time of purchase. Now several years later, shes been diagnosed with terminal cancer and her life insurance critical illness component paid…
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Things that could/should be mentioned in offer letter
One property I'm looking at has an asking price of around £15k more than an almost identical property recently sold for, just around the corner. There's obviously reasons why estate agents and buyers might do that. If I was to consider making an offer I would follow the usual advice of including my selling points e.g. no…
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Coach house insurer recommendations
Can anyone recommend an insurance provider who will insure a coach house ? I own the freehold of the building and one garage. It is my main home. There are two other garages below me belonging to neighbours who have a 999 yr lease on a peppercorn rent. They contribute 5% towards my insurance premium. And I’m to insure the…
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Selling 1 bed flat in East Lothian (Scotland) that is on the Homestake scheme
Hi all, In 2007 I purchased a flat via the Scottish Government's Homestake scheme as a first time buyer. Thinking about it, it was/is a great scheme as essentially I own circa 60% of the property and the scheme never asked for any rent/charges etc. It has took me a while, but not time to move on. I'm moving into a new…
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Boundary dispute and responsibility
Please help. We moved in to our house 1.5 years ago, and were told by the previous owner that the huge hedge of bamboo belonged to the lower neighbouring property, which is their side of the "boundary wall". We have paid to have it trimmed but we can't reach the rest. This week, the lower neighbour says we have to get rid…
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Freehold/leasehold management
I inherited the freehold of a property converted to 9 flats on land . The front of the property of 6 leasehold flats is semi detached from the back half built on at a later date and separated when the conversion took place in the 80’s. The back half of the property, 3 flats are freehold and I reside in one. There has been…
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Should I rent my flat out for another year or sell now in a poor market?
Hi There, I had my flat on the market from Nov. '24. The flat is a rental flat which I used to live in and have rented out for some years. I am a working mum with 2 kids and a partner. We live in our family home which has a sizeable mortgage on it. We wanted to sell the flat before our mortgage is to be renewed in Oct '25.…
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Council tax query re: 200% charge on furnished unoccupied home job related dwellings
Hoping you can advise. I have secured a teaching job overseas. My new school will be paying for my accommodation whilst I am working there. I do not want to rent out my furnished home in the UK as I want to stay here when we come home for the holidays. Will this be liable for 200% council tax or will it be exempt under…
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Letting agency termination fee
Hi everyone I've been with this management firm for almost 3 years now but now they are demanding a fee when I want to end their management to self-manage. From my signed terms: "Should the landlord request to change the level of service from either Full Management or Rent Collect during the initial period or during any…
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Buying a new house and selling old - the process
Hi all, I currently own a family home and will need to look at buying a bigger home due to an expanding family. I have found some I like but I'm trying to understand how the 'transition' would work and hopefully I can get some initial advice on here on how the process would work. My plan is to sell my existing family home…
