Changing windows in winter

wessexw

Hello all

I'm currently in the process of buying a new flat at the moment and the windows are a bit dodgy on it so will need replacing sooner rather than later. However the flat is leasehold and the local council are the freeholder and I just found out that I'll need the councils permission to change the windows. There's a whole official process I'll have to go through and according to the councils website, it would be roughly 4.5 months before I'd get the permission to do the windows!!

4.5 months is going to take me in to November if I apply as soon as I move in and I'm thinking that it's probably not a good idea to go changing the windows in the middle of winter? But then again I've never been involved in anything like this before (first time buyer) so would changing in winter be necessarily bad enough to make me hold off till next year? The windows are the original Victorian single glaze with some rotting wood so I'm predicting a drafty winter if I don't get them done.

Thanks!

AlwaysSomething

Had my new double glazing installed in January with no problems. Each window takes an hour or two to remove, and an hour to put in. The house didn't even get that cold, although it was freezing outside. Didn't envy the guys doing the work.

iamcornholio

The permission from the council should not take that long - effectively it will take 10 minutes to check what specification and design is proposed. Also, permission can not be withheld without a very good reason.

If you are fitting windows of similar design to adjacent properties, then that will be fine.

If you don't get a reply to a request for permission within 20 days, then pester someone higher up and make a complaint if necessary - compalints tend to have to be answered within 10 days.

As for fitting in winter, a frame takes an hour or so to fit. You can close the door to the room as each is done, so its not like the property will be exposed to the weather for very long

sillygoose

Yeah you don't want to mother them! they work quicker if their hands are frozen to the power drill. I had this done over Christmas no problem.


When it thawed we found a fitter still frozen to the drainpipe, fortunately he had hibernated so no harm done. Only other difficulty is the amount of tea you will have to make. These guys run on a sort herbal (in)Fusion power, every window fitted helps feed 5 families on an Indian plantation.

Owain_Moneysaver

sillygoose wrote: »

Are you sure that was winter and not a really bad job of cavity wall insulation!

wessexw

Thanks everyone! I thought that 4.5 months was really long to get permission as well - maybe they just say this figure to cover themselves and have something to fall back on when they want to fob you off for a while.