greent's mfw journey

JAMIEDODGER

Hope you feel better soon greent have subscribed and hope to pick up lots of helpful tips:)

JD x

greent

michelle09 wrote: »

Can you deduct the bills from their deposit? Surely you shouldn't be able to change bills into someone's name without their permission?

Glad you're feeling better, sure the kitchen is missing you.

michelle09 wrote: »

Looks like you're doing well, I'm still surprised they could do that with the utilities in the first place.

The joys of a new kitchen (and the financial pain) but glad it's going well. Do you have an end date sorted?

The utilities co accept people notifying them when they move out - same as when you notify them when you buy a house, I guess? The bill was in my name before the tenants, as it had been empty before them, so it was an easy swap, I guess. Cheeky to do it before they'd even moved out, though!!

Kitchen should be done in 2 weeks - but the delivery of an incorrect range may snag it a little (thankfully there is only one base unit the other side and 2 small wall units) They are starting fitting tomorrow and looking to template the granite on Thurs, with fitting that the following Thurs. Once it's complete (and snags done) we need to have it painted (arranging own painter) and have some skirting boards made (possibly want maple ones in a non-standard design, so will need to have them templated and order the wood in especially) We're also changing the kitchen door - but we're changing all the downstairs internal doors (did the upstairs ones a few years ago) to wood, but most need to be fire doors, and the dining room to hall is a non-standard size for wooden fire doors , so we may need to get those made.... that job may wait for a few months until we have more money!! )

brizzledfw wrote: »

Just checking in..that flu sounds horrendous. Hope youre properly better now. Take it easy.

Kitchen sounds loads of fun and well done on your savings for it. Hope the new BTL tenant is better than the last lot too..hate it when people are so discourteous at best and downright thieving at worst in trying to make you pay for their damage, utility costs and disorganisation. Maybe bill them for your time in sorting it all out too??!
x

I think their deposit is going to be swallowed up in costs incurred by us as it is. Sadly, it does seem that the protection works in the tenants favour - they can dispute my costs.... Fingers crossed. I would like to have all of their deposit returned to me (795) as it's cost us way more than that (lack of rent, redecoration, some minor repairs, time, mileage, getting rid of rubbish left behind, cleaning, costs of getting a new tenant - all of which are allowable costs to pass on) but we'll see..

greent

JAMIEDODGER wrote: »

Hope you feel better soon greent have subscribed and hope to pick up lots of helpful tips:)

JD x

Thanks, JamieDodger

Karmacat wrote: »

Astonishiing that you had all that going on/in planning when you were so ill. I'm really glad you're feeling a bit better, but obvs still a way to go.

Thanks, Kc x What ended up being a 'good' thing was the kitchen got knocked back from 22nd Jan to 5th Feb. At the time I wasn't that happy, but there's no way I could have had stuff going on (pre kitchen stuff and kitchen fitting) when so rough!

And am still taking it easier than normal
xx

smallholdingsister

Will you get a flu jab next year? Or did you have one?

michelle09

Huh, I didn't realise it happened, and you're entirely right, it is cheeky. I'd never have even considered it! Least you managed to get it sorted.

Fingers crossed. I am generally in favour of deposits being biased towards the tenants because I've had a hell of a time getting deposits back in the past (including one LL who admitted they'd spent it and I had to wait until they'd been paid to get it), but it does mean people can take the mick.

Hopefully they will realise they were onto a good thing getting out of the contract early and won't fight it.

greent

smallholdingsister wrote: »

Will you get a flu jab next year? Or did you have one?

Didn't have one - our GP surgery runs 2 clinics which get booked up v quickly and no longer send out reminders/ advise when the clinics are. They then tend to offer you the jab if you're seeing the nurse for something else (eg: OH when he goes for diabetic review) I will be asking for one next Winter - I can get a free one as I have occasional inhalers for stubborn Winter coughs/ breathing issues

michelle09 wrote: »

Huh, I didn't realise it happened, and you're entirely right, it is cheeky. I'd never have even considered it! Least you managed to get it sorted.

Fingers crossed. I am generally in favour of deposits being biased towards the tenants because I've had a hell of a time getting deposits back in the past (including one LL who admitted they'd spent it and I had to wait until they'd been paid to get it), but it does mean people can take the mick.

Hopefully they will realise they were onto a good thing getting out of the contract early and won't fight it.

To be fair, I'm generally in favour of tenants getting the biased treatment, as there are some unscrupulous landlords about. Lesson learned, though - we won't ever let to someone we know again - very much just a business relationship next time!

greent

Soooo.... the kitchen units are all in - granite was template yesterday and will be fitted next Thurs. However, the correct range cooker will not be arriving until 7th March, so we have a loan cooker from the supplier in the meantime - clearly the cheapest thing that the group of companies does (as it's likely to be entirely written off) and about half the size of our range... looks a bit daft in the big gap! :rotfl::rotfl:

Units are lovely - the maple is beautiful and they've done a great job of matching in the frames (in frame cupboards) which run next to each other. And the quality of the turned pieces of wood on the cornice turns is just superb. The pieces are so tactile Flooring (black oak Karnde@n parquet tiles) looks great - although couriers of incorrect range damaged it, so that will need to be rectified. Electrics in kitchen have been done (and were apparently 'fruity' - including a 3 way light switch which had lots of electrical tape in it so things wouldn't touch and blow...:eek:.) and some other electrics in the house have been done at the same time (yeay!! - jobs crossed off!)
Plumber has fitted our new shower (tiles look great, if I say so myself! ) and is coming back on Tues to sort 5 radiators around the house.

Bit of a pain that we've got work going on during half term (next week), but this week has been the worst of it - lots of noise (drilling & sawing) and lots of people, with water and electrics off at points for several days. I'm voting that we (smalls and myself) hunker down in the living room and the dining room as much as poss to keep away from it all (am hoping it's not that cold when radiators are being done!) - we've got a school project to do and a 'Robot Arm' to build and lots of Leg0 to sort, so we should be ok

Have started putting some things into cupboards/ drawers (ok, so far it's boxes of 1kea resealable bags, cling film and foil and a pile of dinner plates - but it's a start! :rotfl: :rotfl: This weekend's plans are to put more stuff away and start the massive clean up around the house (did our bathroom today, other than the shower, as it looks like the plumber needs to touch up some grout in the tile)

Other news: new tenant moved in yesterday - yeay! And I was at work yesterday - was tiring, but I am almost fully better - just a cough to shift (not helped by the cold weather) - which is great!

Last few kitchen/ plumbing bills should be paid in the next 10 days or so - and then we can really see where we are financially. It's looking like it's ok, though Oh - and I could do with ordering a skip, too - we were going to do lots of tip runs, but it will be so much quicker to order a small skip to get rid of all the old tiles and some other kitchen and bathroom bits. Will put old radiators out for scrap men - they will probably disappear quite quickly! I'm not going to order it for delivery until w/c 19/2, though, as we still have lots of people with vans due next week so will save the driveway for them

apple_muncher

So glad you are so much better. But do take it easy still...

EatingTheElephant

The kitchen sounds amazing greent, it is giving me lot of ideas for when we do ours, although it will be ages yet.

Karmacat

It does sound wonderful, and I love your description of what you're going to do hunkering down over half term. Take it easy still though