Need help with budgeting worse-case scenario

mortgagewannabe_2

@ Out, Vile Jelly - Yes it's £800 for definate. I've also contacted the water company and for the property I'm looking for it's £890. Water meter is okay to put on and can be deactivated within 2 years, but I've been adviced that once on, if I had to sell the property, then the new buyer would have to no choice but to take the property with a water meter. As for the cavity insulation, I'd have to get that checked by an expert.

@ getmore4less - My offer has now been declined, so I'm now even more sceptical whether this venture is worth it. I have checked other similar properties within the street and they do have much better insulation (C & D ratings) and to confirm this you can go on the epc register website. The property basement is actually half garage and half cellar and yes it does have access...this is how I knew that the cellar ceiling hadn't been insulated. I think you got it wrong....No. 27 sold for £248, not £148.

@ Upsidedown Bear - Thanks for providing useful information....much appreciated.

Thanks again everyone....I look forward to your replies.

teddysmum

Some years ago, my childminder's friends moved from a modern 4 bed detached house to a larger 4 bed Edwardian house, because they were a family of large build (3 teenage sons), but soon regretted the move as their fuel bills were huge and actually moved back to a house the same as their former one.


They reckoned that a lot of the heating cost was because of the high ceilings,where they were heating space not used for living and I notice that this house also has these high ceilings.

mortgagewannabe_2

@ teddysmum - Your absolutely right, but I guess many houses in Yorkshire including the one we currently live in also have high ceilings too. For us the change would be that the rooms generally are larger and we also have plenty of storage space too, as well as potential to expand.

We would love to buy a modern house, but I've found they lack the feeling of a proper home and tend to have box-type rooms with no special features, such as coving, stonework, original fireplaces.

Now if you could show me a modern home with similar features, then I'd certainly be interested.

marksoton

I'll keep it quite simple.

Either you can afford the property type you seem to desire or you can't.

It really is that easy...

mortgagewannabe_2

@ marksoton, yes I can afford the property as it is , but I'm interested in how I can vastly improve the warmth and comfort. If anyone can give me ideas on how to insulate outside walls internally, without loss

GobbledyGook

You need to look at the useage of the vendor and look about when you are viewing (particularly on a second viewing). The family that live opposite us have same number of people (2 adults, 5 kids), same house, same layout, same heating, houses built at same time to same standard and their utility bills are almost double ours.

It's not just about the house, it's about how you use it. They are the kind of family who wander about in t-shirts and socked or bare feet. They leave windows and doors open and there are always lights on (I know lights don't cost *that* much, but it's indicative of their ways - there are tv's on in bedrooms while they are eating dinner etc). Our house isn't cold, but there's no way my kids get to wander around in bare feet then whack the heating up because the floor is cold!

mortgagewannabe_2

Thanks gobbledygook.

The vendor is ill unfortunately and on two viewings we went on, he has had the heating on almost all the time. His bills are around £250pm.

However, I must add that as said before, he has zero insulation, partial double glazing and draughty house, which I feel maybe the reasons why it's so cold for him and why his bills are so high too.

I've checked his EPC and it's on F rating, whereas his neighbours with same properties are on C ratings.

This is one of the reasons why it's not as simple to answer the question about affordability.

getmore4less

mortgagewannabe wrote: »

No. 27 sold for £248, not £148.

typo(fixed) I though after I might have mistyped but forgot to check till just now you remined me, thanks.

mortgagewannabe_2

getmore4less wrote: »

typo(fixed) I though after I might have mistyped but forgot to check till just now you remined me, thanks.

No worries, lol. :beer:

I'm in a dilemma now....:(

nubbins

"Council Tax - £1050 going to £1750
Gas/Elec - £1300 to £2600
Water - £400 to £1000"

Sorry but are you sure figures are correct. I bought a 4 bed detached 1920's house, hadn't really been touched in 40 years, rubbish insulation, leaks all over the place, rubbish boiler, cooker, radiators etc etc

Council tax £1500
Water £250
Gas Electricity £800.