This Time I'm Really Going To Do It

Watty1

A good point Daisy.  I think what I really mean is I will in any financial relationship put everything in writing and make sure all involved are clear.   I was way too trusting with my ex.  It was only afterwards I found the extent of his deviousness.  But that is all on him. 

Me, Feral Cat, Watty Dog and 3 horses are a little unit.  Sometimes it is the small things that really get me.  Today I could decide what toothpaste I wanted all for myself!   I didn't want the brand he always insisted we had. I could choose and it seemed huge.

Watty1

Ex contacted me to say he had paid the transfer fee so he mortgage on the rental property will be in his name only and would i therefore tell the letting agent that he should get the rent.

I robustly said no, not until the property transfers and could he please confirm that he has taken out an insurance policy so i can stop paying the insurance.

No answer.  Anyone surprised? I was not.

Watty1

In other matters I would appreciate some advice because the people who read this thread (thank you for everything) have been so helpful in the past.

The original planning consultant is going to be let go as she is still saying I will get class Q and sent me on line blogs to prove her point.   I actually don't believe her and I note she has no evidence for my local borough either so I started to shop around.

I interviewed two planning consultants. (A)  charged me £350 + VAT to come out and give advice and the director came out with his side kick who will handle the case.  The side kick did not say much but has written a very clear letter setting out I will not get a Class Q conversion on on my barn and that the local council prefer business use as it supports the 'rural economy.  They suggested I apply for a holiday let with an equestrian theme.   The advice seems sound.  This is a big company and does a lot with farmers, usually large scale conversions so the director will not be handling the case, the silent man will.   

Planning Consultant (B)  have a class Q specialist who looked at it and said no chance.  Sent me (without charge) a really clear email explaining why Class Q will fail at the first hurdle in his opinion and that the local council will only go for a commercial use on the site in line with their policies.    I rang him and ran by him the equestrian holiday let idea which he liked and said as i had a clear plan he would come out.  He came out, he looked at the barn.  We talked over class Q with him on site.  He cannot see it will be acceptable to the council.  This firm is very local and knew the borough planning officer that had been out (and by the end of the meeting was very frank about the office opinions of him.    (B) has suggested we put in two applications one for a conversion and one for a new build for a holiday let.   He suggested this as he thinks the barn will be difficult to convert and I could probably buy an "off the peg" house for less that would be constructed on site.    When I said that was a shame as I loved my architects drawings he said he thought we could re-purpose them.     I liked the man.

I just don't have a clear frontrunner.   My head says (A) has more experience in the rural market but (B) was very approachable and likeable and gave me the advice without charge.

I'm waiting for their actual costs to come in but I suspect they will be broadly similar.   I suppose it is half a dozen of one and 6 of the other. I don't know how to decide.  Any thoughts to help welcomed.

Humdinger1

Go with your gut feeling @Watty1...sounds like B to me.  See what the charges are and what it says about extras. We'll done on insisting that ex plays it by the book! Love Humdinger xx 

Slinky

Regarding a new build, you should be able to reclaim the VAT costs which you won't be able to with a conversion. At least that's my understanding is. That 20% is a huge sum on a building project. 

Slinky

And I'd go with B too. 

daisy_1571

It sounds like b (if he doesn't overstretch himself) might be easier to get hold of than someone in a larger company.   But doesn't sound like a did anything wrong (in your view) so it doesn't sound like you feel they would be a bad choice.  Nice option to be able to pick best of 2 rather than the best of a bad bunch as can often be the choice 

Dxx

Watty1

Fabulous thank you. In many ways I think my decision was B and I clearly wrote it so that you all came down on B.  Waiting for costs and so on to come back in but yes, B I think is my preferred choice but as @daisy_1571 put it, wonderful to be in the lovely choice of picking 2 I really like rather than just settling..

Watty1

Lovely weekend. Am dram plays in a local garden for a donation to the local church and picnic with jazz in our local church Sunday afternoon.   Failed to plan the picnic well so spent too much in an "emergency  solution" on both occassions.

Keeping a record of my spending is both scary and illuminating.  It shows that I "throw money" at an issue like a picnic (£11 on cakes for everyone going when I could just have taken my own food) £22 on a non alcoholic pimms for later in the week when I am hosting a party (could have just told everyone to bring their own drink) and £17 on picnic for 2 food at local co-op (could have made sandwiches if I had food in).

This month was about looking at where I spend and why not leaping into frugaldom.   I'm learning about me in the process and the record is shining a rather harsh spotlight on my spending.    Very often it is a panic spend when there is a problem when if I sat and thought about it I would do so much better for less..

Karmacat

You're doing exactly the right thing - doing what you usually do, but writing it down and then analysing it.  The solution has jumped out at you immediately, which is great.