Need £20K

ALIBOBSY

20k for a kitchen refit sounds alot, and you mention a bathroom revamp and new boiler?
Do you mean the existing kitchen is a one storey extension? Is it so bad it needs a total rebuild?
I think you need to get out the contract and check exactly what the judge ordered, not what was said or verbally agreed. If he only says maintain the house in a reasonable condition and rebuild the kitchen I would get quotes to do the minimum required to rebuild this. Put the cheapest kitchen in and forget about the bathroom refit. Has the boiler packed up working? If not just get it serviced. Plus what does the contract state will happen if you don't get the kitchen done? I think you need to read all the small print and work out what your situation is. Given the fact you say you saved your step daughter from fraud charges, surely she can't throw you out as you could threaten her with the same charges again?
good luck
ali x

lottieholder

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

20k for a kitchen refit sounds alot, and you mention a bathroom revamp and new boiler?
Do you mean the existing kitchen is a one storey extension? Is it so bad it needs a total rebuild?
I think you need to get out the contract and check exactly what the judge ordered, not what was said or verbally agreed. If he only says maintain the house in a reasonable condition and rebuild the kitchen I would get quotes to do the minimum required to rebuild this. Put the cheapest kitchen in and forget about the bathroom refit. Has the boiler packed up working? If not just get it serviced. Plus what does the contract state will happen if you don't get the kitchen done? I think you need to read all the small print and work out what your situation is. Given the fact you say you saved your step daughter from fraud charges, surely she can't throw you out as you could threaten her with the same charges again?
good luck
ali x

The boiler was last serviced about 4 years ago. Our engineer (also a friend) said that it needed replacing urgently, it is very inefficient and isn't going to improve over more time.

The kitchen is indeed a one story extension, is very small and was built with lots of windows and glass, which I now know was deliberate as at the time it cut down on building requirements and costs. I have a new cooker, bought before OH died, which incorporates a boiler (currently sitting in a garage).

The contract/court order states that I have to have the kitchen rebuilt as per the architects plans drawn up before OH died. I am to keep the rest of the house in good order and make no further structural alterations without permission.

I could threaten her again but there are other issues going on here besides the house. What it really boils down to is that I not only need legally to do the work but I WANT to do it for my own comfort. I suppose, if push comes to shove, they could have me removed from the house for not complying with a court order.

foxwales

That has cleared a few things up.

It's a shame that your name is not on the deeds as this limits your legal clout.

As you have been bound legally to carry out specific work as part of your "right to remain" in the property; it would be hard to overcome this without very lengthy and expensive legal action.

If the agreement has no time specifications included in it, you could play this to your advantage by doing everything a little bit at a time, although not ideal due to you wanting a nicer environment for your own comfort; it would mean you would be placed under less financial pressure. However you would need to check the agreement for any time limits specified.

You mentioned that you are an accountant; have you considered doing some temporary or free lance work to generate extra funds?

Turning the house into a B&B would require you to meet certain regulations and also possibly make adaptions to the property to meet these regulations, but you would need to check this with your Local Authority. Also you will need different insurance for your property for a B&B; and then there is the problem that you do not legally own the house; therefore you would need the owners permission to convert the house into a B&B.

lottieholder

I actually already have permission to use the house for a business including letting rooms, B&B etc. My barrister was acute enough to consider that I might need to.

I do do occasional temp work, unfortunately I don't seem to be able to get much of it. I suspect that this is age related. It might be illegal to discriminate on the grounds of age, but it still happens. As it is a requirement that a passport has to be produced to be able to obtain any position nowadays, it's impossible to hide my age. I certainly don't get enough to save up the money I need.

I suspect that this is the only thing I can do though, so thanks for listening to me.