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Would be better to have the MVHR inlet and boiler flue on different walls of the house if possible. Will the boiler flue be up-wind or down-wind of the MVHR inlet? How big is the gas boiler (eg power output)?... http://support.ambirad.co.uk/article.aspx?id=10724 Also check the boiler makers installation instructions. Sometimes these over ride the Building Regulations, for example when the boiler maker says you need a bigger separation.

Welcome to the forum. Perhaps post some photos? The difficulty will likely depend on if any structural walls will have to come down/out.

From todays Telegraph.. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/06/smart-energy-meters-giving-readings-seven-times-high-study-finds/ Highlights.. Smart energy meters giving readings up to six times too high, study finds Smart meters are giving readings up to six times higher than the energy consumed by households when connected to energy-saving light bulbs, according to scientists. So called "green" devices such as energy saving light bulbs, heaters, LED bulbs and dimmers change the shape of electric currents which can result in a distorted reading, it said. The greatest inaccuracies were seen when dimmers combined with energy saving light bulbs and LED bulbs were connected to the system. Five out of nine smart meter models tested gave readings which were too high, the study found. The author of the report, Prof Leferink, said: "We've known since 2009 electronic meters can give readings which are too low. But this is the first time we've seen they can be much too high. We were flabbergasted by our results. "The study was carried out in a laboratory setting. If you looked at ones in homes I don't expect they would be 500 or 600 per cent out. But what we have shown is the reading can clearly deviate a lot from the power customers are actually consuming." and can anyone explain this bit.... "It is alarming, but it does not necessarily mean people have lost money. Smart meters are essentially a 'second check' as energy suppliers keep a record of energy consumption and if there is a discrepancy, they will know."

+1 If it's too late to add expansion slots then I would decouple. Otherwise not. We have opus pattern stone over UFH. The screed in each room shrank towards it's own centre and it cracked where they met at a doorway (we didn't put an expansion gap). The crack is not straight but curved more in one room than the other. Needless to say this propagated to the stone and the crack runs across three bits. This despite us allowing plenty of time for the screed to dry and warmed up the UFH slowly. No other cracks anywhere else. Think about grout colour. The main downside is that the grout gets dirty, especially in our kitchen. Seal it with several coats of stone sealer as soon as you can. For cleaning dirty grout I recommend you go on-line and look for special Alkaline stone cleaners available in 5L containers. One of these brushes saves the back..

Would it be possible to move the space outside 16 so the space for 14 can be moved and made bigger? If he ends up with a bigger space he might be happier.

Do they own the freehold or act as managing agent? I would try and get it sorted formally or there could be an issue when you sell. Might have to take out an insurance policy for the new owner if you can get one.

If they are reasonably standard strip foundations, no trees or shrinking clay, I'd tell the BCO what you plan to dig and let him decide if he wants more info.

If the it reason they gave is they don't think it will look right the I reckon that's unreasonable. Had they complained about being overlooked then that might be different. As others have said... Who is "us"? It looks like if you get their permission the other owners have no case.

A meter man knocked on our door a few weeks ago to ask where our meter was. We showed him and he went away with a reading. Then just recently we get a letter saying the meter man was unable to find our house! I felt like sending them clips from our CCTV system of his visit. The letter also asked us to I log in and check and update my address details. The address appeared to be missing the road name but their stupid system wouldn't let me add it. You can only select addresses by entering a postcode and selecting your address from their database. Our address is correct in the post office data base so it's their IT system that's broken.

We have a wood burning fire in our living room. Our house was built 10 years ago and isn't super insulated yet we have trouble keeping the room temperature down when it's lit. Even with the smallest of fires it can quickly reach 24C. Work out how much power will be needed to heat your living room. Then if you look here.. http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/stoves_with_backboilers.html ..you see that they typically have a room to boiler ratio of about 3 to 5 times so you can work out how much heat you can get from the boiler without the room overheating. A real fire is great for winter weekends but I wouldn't want to rely on one for DHW. Way too much work feeding and cleaning. Back in the 1960s my parents were over the moon when gas came to the village and they could ditch their coal boiler.

Solar panels that match your roof covering... http://www.curbed.com/2017/2/28/14756846/solar-panels-roof-design-sistine-solar

I think you can use one of these links to get a new address listed in the PAF database... http://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/update-your-address Under "What's the problem" there is an option to select "I have moved into a newly built property" or "I can't find my address on the postcode finder". or http://www.royalmail.com/postcode-finder-address-enquiry-form "if you have moved into a new house, you can use this form to tell us."

The only way you might get skip hire zero rated is if you hired someone to do site clearance or similar and they provided their own skip. This is because if someone supplies two things, one zero rated and one not, they should charge the lower rate on everything.

Was in the news recently.. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/20/bovis-to-pay-7m-to-compensate-customers-angry-at-poorly-built-homes If there are lots of visible faults, how many hidden ones are there like badly installed insulation?

You mentioned tiling so beware as some screed is hard to file over... http://www.bal-adhesives.com/tiling-onto-calcium-sulfate-anhydrite-screeds/ It may seem obvious but with UFH you also want to avoid aerated or light weight screed.

I've no idea if they are any good but Granite Transformations say they do recycled glass worktops and they have places in Bristol, Warwick and Swansea, perhaps others nearer? http://www.granitetransformations.co.uk/find-a-showroom/wales/swansea-showroom

I have the Axminster TS-200 on a Ryobi stand. Has a nice induction motor which is quiet. Only issue is the T slots which are non standard size. Would consider the bigger TS-250 is buying again.

Oh dear, we turned our MVHR system on for the first time in February 2007 :-)

PS That jubilee clip just looks plain wrong to me but I'm not a gas engineer. Is it rust proof? http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/7/made

Regarding the isolating lever.. It looks like you may only need a quarter turn lever if there is more than one cylinder... http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/9/made

https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/2741/Do-I-need-a-building-warrant Internal alterations to houses A building warrant is not required for alterations within a house (not a flat or maisonette) subject to the following conditions: The floor area of the house is not increased There must be no alteration to an external wall, a separating wall, a loadbearing wall, the roof or any other element of structure The house being altered must have no more than 2 storeys.

Wedi board can also be used for curves but would need a skim coat. http://www.wedi.de/en/area-of-application/processing/designing-constructing/individual-forms-and-curves/

I can't add much. I think till receipts are ok up to £30? Places like Homebase will give you a hand written VAT receipt with your name and address on it if you ask for one. If it has your lunch on it as well as materials you can just cross off your lunch and put the correct amount on your spreadsheet. The reclaim form asks for "All the original VAT Invoices, bills and credit notes". I think the word "bill" would cover an order confirmation? Note it also states they "..may ask you to prove that you paid for them". That that implies you don't have to prove it unless they ask. The above is on page 11.. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487894/VAT431NB_form_and_notes.pdf

Our down pipes go into 110mm drainage pipe with a rubber gaiter to stop any debris getting in. How about "reinforced grass" for the car hardstanding.. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=reinforced+grass&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZ6ufttJfSAhWCCMAKHbL2AB4Q_AUICSgC&biw=1288&bih=745#imgrc=w46yPyEId0Em-M

Before you do that I would go on the land registry web site and download the title plan for Number 1. That only costs a few £ and you get the plan immediately. See if the main is on their land. If not find out who's land it is on. It might be necessary to pay for a map search which costs a bit more in time and money.