Buying new build flat- developer asking me to sign waiver ?!

carrotcake68

I understand your point about the heating, I believe I have made my own point clear as well, we all know how much rents in London have increased, I have a friend who has an increase of £500, what's double the heating bill for me in comparison ? 

carrotcake68

MultiFuelBurner said:

carrotcake68 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

carrotcake68 said:

Ayr_Rage said:

As an aside, have you researched how much district heating can cost you.

It's not a normal regulated market.

yes, we have and regardless of it all, it is worth it compared to renting and I can finally have pets and no more invasive inspections looking into my drawers every 6 months, plus increases of £300-500 each year (with the new London market trends that is, it might slow down). 

The LL was inspecting your drawers every 6 months?

District heating will be fats to rise in cost and slow to fall. 

agency sent a third party inventory company to our place every 6 months who took 1 h each time taking photos of every corner and looking inside wardrobe and drawers, yes. 1st time they took photos of our clothing, but told them off the following time however they still took photos inside cupboards and so on. why do you think people are so desperate to buy ? yes, I'm sure district heating is awful but not much better position with Shell right now and rotten window frames allowing cold air in. 

It does sound like you have what I would term a bad LL or bad letting agents. 

Well on behalf of what we deem ourselves to be "good landlords" I apologise that is not what renting a property should be like.

With Shell you are protected by the price cap as a domestic customer. For your heating budget assume your heating will cost double what you pay now and you won't be shocked.

 there is not need to apologise, I've just had enough of being banned from owning pets or decorating as I please. I know there are plenty of good LL-tenant relationships, but I don't think this applies to anywhere in London and am so traumatized by the experience I'd rather deal with said bills instead. You do raise a good point regarding the heating bills, I'm aware, but I'm still biased towards ownership rather than renting. When UK is like Germany and renting is capped and deposits get places in accounts where they gain interest for the benefit of the tenant, I will surely think otherwise 

GDB2222

carrotcake68 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

carrotcake68 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

carrotcake68 said:

Ayr_Rage said:

As an aside, have you researched how much district heating can cost you.

It's not a normal regulated market.

yes, we have and regardless of it all, it is worth it compared to renting and I can finally have pets and no more invasive inspections looking into my drawers every 6 months, plus increases of £300-500 each year (with the new London market trends that is, it might slow down). 

The LL was inspecting your drawers every 6 months?

District heating will be fats to rise in cost and slow to fall. 

agency sent a third party inventory company to our place every 6 months who took 1 h each time taking photos of every corner and looking inside wardrobe and drawers, yes. 1st time they took photos of our clothing, but told them off the following time however they still took photos inside cupboards and so on. why do you think people are so desperate to buy ? yes, I'm sure district heating is awful but not much better position with Shell right now and rotten window frames allowing cold air in. 

It does sound like you have what I would term a bad LL or bad letting agents. 

Well on behalf of what we deem ourselves to be "good landlords" I apologise that is not what renting a property should be like.

With Shell you are protected by the price cap as a domestic customer. For your heating budget assume your heating will cost double what you pay now and you won't be shocked.

 there is not need to apologise, I've just had enough of being banned from owning pets or decorating as I please. I know there are plenty of good LL-tenant relationships, but I don't think this applies to anywhere in London and am so traumatized by the experience I'd rather deal with said bills instead. You do raise a good point regarding the heating bills, I'm aware, but I'm still biased towards ownership rather than renting. When UK is like Germany and renting is capped and deposits get places in accounts where they gain interest for the benefit of the tenant, I will surely think otherwise 

Is that a house or a flat that you are buying? Some blocks of flats have restrictions on pets.

Apart from that, I have sympathy with your point of view. This will be a new property, so the insulation should be good, and in theory combined heat and power is very efficient. 

Umm, you are getting CHP? Otherwise, what’s the point of district heating?

Gavin83

carrotcake68 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

carrotcake68 said:

Ayr_Rage said:

As an aside, have you researched how much district heating can cost you.

It's not a normal regulated market.

yes, we have and regardless of it all, it is worth it compared to renting and I can finally have pets and no more invasive inspections looking into my drawers every 6 months, plus increases of £300-500 each year (with the new London market trends that is, it might slow down). 

The LL was inspecting your drawers every 6 months?

District heating will be fats to rise in cost and slow to fall. 

agency sent a third party inventory company to our place every 6 months who took 1 h each time taking photos of every corner and looking inside wardrobe and drawers, yes. 1st time they took photos of our clothing, but told them off the following time however they still took photos inside cupboards and so on. why do you think people are so desperate to buy ? yes, I'm sure district heating is awful but not much better position with Shell right now and rotten window frames allowing cold air in. 

You should have refused the inspection.

Have you checked you can have pets in the flat you’re buying? A lot of blocks have a no pets clause regardless of whether you’re buying or renting. It’s often not the landlord who puts this rule in place. Every house we’ve rented has allowed pets, every flat it’s been blocked.

I really don’t think this is the flat to buy, sounds like a lot of potential problems and costs but the decision is ultimately yours.

user1977

Gavin83 said:

carrotcake68 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

carrotcake68 said:

Ayr_Rage said:

As an aside, have you researched how much district heating can cost you.

It's not a normal regulated market.

yes, we have and regardless of it all, it is worth it compared to renting and I can finally have pets and no more invasive inspections looking into my drawers every 6 months, plus increases of £300-500 each year (with the new London market trends that is, it might slow down). 

The LL was inspecting your drawers every 6 months?

District heating will be fats to rise in cost and slow to fall. 

agency sent a third party inventory company to our place every 6 months who took 1 h each time taking photos of every corner and looking inside wardrobe and drawers, yes. 1st time they took photos of our clothing, but told them off the following time however they still took photos inside cupboards and so on. why do you think people are so desperate to buy ? yes, I'm sure district heating is awful but not much better position with Shell right now and rotten window frames allowing cold air in. 

You should have refused the inspection.

Have you checked you can have pets in the flat you’re buying? A lot of blocks have a no pets clause regardless of whether you’re buying or renting. It’s often not the landlord who puts this rule in place. Every house we’ve rented has allowed pets, every flat it’s been blocked.

I really don’t think this is the flat to buy, sounds like a lot of potential problems and costs but the decision is ultimately yours.

Given the reference to completion being soon I guess the OP has already exchanged? They might want to clarify (and if so, what does the contract say in relation to the district heating being complete?).

GDB2222

user1977 said:

Gavin83 said:

carrotcake68 said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

carrotcake68 said:

Ayr_Rage said:

As an aside, have you researched how much district heating can cost you.

It's not a normal regulated market.

yes, we have and regardless of it all, it is worth it compared to renting and I can finally have pets and no more invasive inspections looking into my drawers every 6 months, plus increases of £300-500 each year (with the new London market trends that is, it might slow down). 

The LL was inspecting your drawers every 6 months?

District heating will be fats to rise in cost and slow to fall. 

agency sent a third party inventory company to our place every 6 months who took 1 h each time taking photos of every corner and looking inside wardrobe and drawers, yes. 1st time they took photos of our clothing, but told them off the following time however they still took photos inside cupboards and so on. why do you think people are so desperate to buy ? yes, I'm sure district heating is awful but not much better position with Shell right now and rotten window frames allowing cold air in. 

You should have refused the inspection.

Have you checked you can have pets in the flat you’re buying? A lot of blocks have a no pets clause regardless of whether you’re buying or renting. It’s often not the landlord who puts this rule in place. Every house we’ve rented has allowed pets, every flat it’s been blocked.

I really don’t think this is the flat to buy, sounds like a lot of potential problems and costs but the decision is ultimately yours.

Given the reference to completion being soon I guess the OP has already exchanged? They might want to clarify (and if so, what does the contract say in relation to the district heating being complete?).

I have never bought a brand new property, but I imagine that the contract refers to the property being essentially complete and a NHBC certificate being available?  Alternatively, this isn't in the purchase contract, but it's covered by the developer's contract with NHBC? Either way, the developer seems to be quite keen to get the op's signature, and I don't suppose they'd bother unless they need it.

kingstreet

It's probably the builder's year/half-year end on 30 June.

They might be prepared to sweeten the deal a little to get the exchange/completion in the figures. Bonuses etc you know.