As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

Hardup_Hester

Listed buildings are difficult, it's 'OK' to let it fall into disrepair, but if it is made good, it has to be in accordance with very strict & very expensive guitelines.
Hester

Red_Doe

Thats such a shame about that farmhouse being unoccupied and falling into dereliction. Even if that farming conglomerate isnt particularly interested then they could offer it for part rent/part DIY work to a capable home handyperson (a sort of "You live in it for a cheap rent and your labour restoring the place" sorta deal). I'm sure there'd be takers for a deal like that (it would just be a question of having to check out some of their previous handiwork to see if they had a good level of skills).

Here in the Highlands, you can see countless sturdy little crofthouses go to ruin. It`s appalling. Ask the owners (usually farmers or crofters) why and they will quote everything from lack of money to do up, to avoiding paying Council Tax on them. Yet there are so many Scots of all ages crying out for such homes, who would happily rent and do up or scrape money together to buy, but the landlords refuse to sell.
Recently I read in the Scottish Field that the government is planning on forcing such owners into selling their derelicts to the government who will then do them up and rent them out. Not sure how much this idea has come on or even if it`s a good one...I`m not generally in favour of government compulsory anything....but the fact is there is a vast amount of derelict cottages strewn across the Highlands that could make beautiful wee homes for families or older folks, and they are rotting into the ground. It does seem such a waste.

ceridwen

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

Listed buildings are difficult, it's 'OK' to let it fall into disrepair, but if it is made good, it has to be in accordance with very strict & very expensive guitelines.
Hester

Thanks.

That is part of why I think the building is being deliberately neglected - so that eventually they can just demolish it without trouble (and do whatever else they plan to with the land).

I was surprised initially to see that Listed Buildings round my way cost no more (and sometimes less) than I would have expected from similar size/etc non Listeds - until I realised that the buyer has to factor more expensive maintenance costs into their considerations (eg the roof has to stay in the same material - when I looked at replacing my roof some time back I had to use "modern" materials in the event, rather than the traditional slate I chose at first - as it was just so much more expensive). Fortunately - my place isnt listed - more like a "cheap as chips (comparatively speaking:cool:) and theres loads of them" type of house.:(. Oh well....at least I can instantly say exactly how much the place is worth...because there's so many comparators....

mardatha

I think that's a great idea RD, hope Alex Salmond is onto it !

redlady_1

I looked at a Listed property. Depending on what is listed you can have a nightmare job trying to renovate it. Even if you want to change the kitchen and bring it up to date. Everything has to be approved. Once I realised how bad it was and how little say I had over it, I walked away. But I do think that owners of these properties should not be allowed to let them fall into such a bad state, especially if they are meant to be so "precious"

Kimitatsu

Morning All

Jedi - huge congrats on your new arrival

Red lady, if the house is yours you will just know! When we moved up here, I walked into the house and felt like I was home, regardless of what needed doing to it.

Its not just listed properties that are the issue, its properties in conservation areas, sites of special scientific interest and areas of outstanding natural beauty that have the same problem Really there shoudl be some sort of subsidy if the council and govt want to impose such issues on the properties, that they have to be done in a certain type of material which is radically more expensive. That way there would not be the issue of empty properties and them being taken out of the property market.

Every council does have an officer who monitors empty properties and can impose orders on them to be brought up to standard and either let onto the property market or put under a compulsory purchase (I think) but I would imagine certainly in the more rural areas that this could be a never ending job!

grandma247

I seem to remember that fertilisers made from petro-chemicals were going to feed the world's starving. What happened there then?

what happened is farmers in India and other poor countries became poorer because they had to pay huge sums of money to the big companies for the chemicals instead of the free manure they had used in the past and their crops often failed because they were not as healthy.

Only got time for a quick read at the moment as been looking after a family member at the weekends but will catch up when I can.

Be careful with soya products if you are menopausal. Although it is supposed to be good for you, some women are sensitive to it and it can cause all kinds of problems including heavy loss or unexpected loss. I found this out when my dil had the most horrendous problems.

redlady_1

Lora, sorry for your loss.

Kimitatsu - I know exactly what you mean. When I bought this little place I knew before I even walked through the door that no matter how bad it was (and it was bad) that I wanted it. OH and I have decided that the place is not for us. It was a stunning property but there is something missing and we are not sure what it is.

But on the plus side the village had a nice farm shop and I bought a lovely piece of topside which we are going to have today for tea. Today though is study day. I need to focus....but I am finding some of it so so dull. Then again, my chosen career has never been known for being exciting!

HoneyBee83

Morning!

GreyQueen-For some reason it wont let me quote :huh: About the runner beans: They were lovely and green and healthy in their pots and now,Yes as you've described yellow and sorry looking,so im totally believing you! I have them tied to canes so hopefully that has helped as its been quite windy here recently. Im also pretty sure the same thing happened last year but i had beans until at least sept....fingers crossed and Many thanks for the info

x

hex2

My house is in a conservation area, and the restrictions are a problem. In theory because the old waste shed is standing my greenhouse is illegal, and so is the childrens hidden shed. They could have some vulgar plastic monstrosity without an issue but a wood built, clad, painted and planted to blend in breaks the rules as it and the greenhouse are classed as permanent structures.

Hippechiq - use any of the veg water, it has extra nutrients in. 'Grey' water - off the WM for example needs filtering I think. Bathwater is fine as long as you don't use lots of bubble bath.

Lakeland opened locally this week in a garden centre, huge store - sent me a £3 off no minimum spend voucher and one for some free after dinner mints too. OH (who is gadget man) wanted to buy everything but instead we have some poach pods, and an apple decorer which will help with my hands when we start drying out apple rings. Really want the dehydrator, more so now I have seen it.

Rediscovering the joys of popcorn as a quick cheap pudding for the boys. Pennies to make, even with toffee sauce.