Temp

Thats most likely a reference to an S106. In some areas builders have to pay both the CIL and any S106 contributions. However S106 are becoming limited. Councils can't require more than 5 schemes to contribute to the same thing under S106.

Is the neighbour happy with that? Just in case you aren't aware... The neighbour could legally put up a fence or build something that obscures the window. They can also get you to remove anything that overhangs the boundary and that includes the window sill.

Are you or have you been living in the old house? I don't think splitting the plot before sale makes any difference to the tax position because you have already built the house which has had tax implications... Opinions seem to vary but it looks if you sell part of your garden (without a house) then you might be liable for CGT unless this is covered by the Principle Private Residence Relief. In that case splitting off the land before sale might mean you loose the PPR. On the other hand once you start building a house in your garden the start of work is treated as a point of sale and then I think any profit from building the house is treated as a "trading profit". Different web sites say this could make any gains liable for income tax, CGT or corporation tax so professional advice is needed.

Will be because there are more "dry" rooms than "wet". Doesn't need to be the same number.

Just a heads up that there are various grades of obscure glass depending on the pattern. Some are not all that obscure so if you go for one of those you might need a blind as well.

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/NHBCPublications/LiteratureLibrary/Technical/StandardsExtra/filedownload,25277,en.pdf See page 5. Says 40mm overhang.

The probability of back flow occurring must be quite rare. I think you would need to leave the shower head in the basin/loo AND leave the shower taps on AND for there to be a problem with the mains pressure? The usual solution is one of those annoying rings you find on the shower head rail in hotels. Google suggests it's called a "Category 5 compliant security hose retaining ring".. https://www.amazon.co.uk/MX-Shower-Hose-Retaining-Ring/dp/B00B2KFHUA https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trueshopping-Universal-Shower-Retainer-Chrome/dp/B00KRAQ18I/ref=pd_sbs_60_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XYMSKAENNVXSZBG0MRNR

Frost damage?... http://www.makersgallery.com/concrete/faqs.html

Is it now blazing away too fast? Our fire insert makes some noise when the air is fully open but once the fire is going you turn it down and then can't hear it.

You can also get fake cast iron guttering made from GRP. Looks quite convincing. May not need painting but check. They used it on Dublin Cathedral... https://www.rainguard.co.uk/projects/yeoman-rainguard-gives-historic-dublin-cathedral-new-lease-life/ Can also get copper guttering (at a price). Also doesn't need painting. http://www.coppagutta.co.uk/ Mind you painting may not be needed on cast iron or aluminium guttering for a few years.

You do need to figure out where it goes, wouldn't do to find out later it that it's been blocked or it comes up in someone's garden. Lift some manholes and chuck some dyed water down the one you found and see if you can figure out where it's going that way. I'd still have the survey done as you need to know the condition of the pipe.

Just remembered that there are some switches designed to be hidden behind tiles... http://www.taptilecontrols.com/ http://www.sensor.co.uk/switches/bathroom_switch/ You would need to check if these are available with momentary/retractable outputs.

I've had a quick look online and I can't find a nice looking momentary rocker/pushbutton mains switch that's approved for use in a humid area. There are lots of IP65 rated switches intended for outside use but they don't look very pretty. This looks like the sort of momentary/retractable pull switch your electrician is talking about.. https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK3190.html?ad_position=1o3&source=adwords&ad_id=45425533757&placement=&kw=&network=g&matchtype=&ad_type=pla&product_id=MK3190&product_partition_id=174047728387&test=finalurl_v2&gclid=Cj0KEQiAtqHEBRCNrdC6rYq9_oYBEiQAejvRl9q0kfiwts0prSeS5t2X-n0PtC0iK-Ov9BnaU6ItxO0aAiM38P8HAQ I expect you can also get them with a white cord.

According to this... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Schneider-Electric-Screwless-Retractive-Stainless-x/dp/B003NVKJMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485361485&sr=8-1&keywords=retractive+light+switch Most people call those momentary switches. I don't see how that helps you meet the regulations for switches in bathrooms. My guess is that your MHRV system needs a momentary switch to trigger boost mode and that this has nothing to do with the regulations.

I'm not sure what "retractable" refers to but.. In my experience Electricians are generally nervous about putting anything mains powered in a bathroom. Sometimes they are reluctant to do so even when the regulations allow. Typically they prefer wall mounted light switches to be outside but accept pull switches for things like lights and fans inside. As far as I can tell you can put a mains powered switch, appliance or thermostat in a bathroom provided.. a) It's in the right "zone" and b) It's installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The latter is frequently the problem - many switches, appliances and thermostats are not approved by the manufacturer for use in humid locations so you are precluded from installing them in a bathroom. In short - if you can find an MHRV boost switch that the maker says can be installed in a humid location then it should be ok.

I don't normally do plugs or reviews for companies so if the moderators are unhappy with this please delete.. A short while ago I needed to hire a tall scaffolding tower. These things are quite expensive to hire from the big companies like HSS even if you haggle so I was looking for best price when I found this company... https://www.lakeside-hire.co.uk/ They are a long way from me but they claimed to deliver nationwide so I gave them a go. I think what they actually do is subcontract the hire to a more local company if you are some distance away, but the price charged was much better than I've been able to find locally. Obviously the actual service you get may depend on the local company they use but I was happy. I know list prices are negotiable but for comparison.. A 6 meter (platform height) Boss tower 1.5 * 1.8m hired for 7 days is currently £148 via Lakeside and £332 from HSS , both inc VAT and delivery. If nothing else you might be able to use a Lakeside quote to beat down your local suppliers.

It can be quite hard to make a profit building houses. Hope you have a good handle on the likely costs. I purchased a plot from a builder. When I asked him why he was selling he told me that he didn't think he could make any more money by actually building the house. We got permission for a different/better house for us to live in. I reckon we broke even at best and probably made a loss. The builder was right. Clearly we overpaid for the plot but it was/is a pretty special plot and there was a lot of competition from other self builders. Pretty sure you will also have to register for VAT and submit quarterly returns as the self build VAT reclaim scheme isn't available to you. Do not be tempted to rent out the houses if you can't sell them as that may mean the VAT has to be repaid.

While looking for something else I stumbled on this MS Word document... https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjo_LnZkd3RAhXBBsAKHW3_AT8QFggdMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taxation.co.uk%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Farticle_files%2FTIPsconstruction5711.doc&usg=AFQjCNGhrS3m27K8AsZKohWFMAZuBL-pHQ&sig2=87TByx5YjVpRhiMxLvXsWA It appears to be internal HMRC guidance on taxation within the construction industry. Of note is the number of sections redacted with the words... I noticed there are TWO of those in the section on self build and one is in the section headed "Useful websites". So best be careful what you post on forums eh?.

Is he talking about this... https://www.gov.uk/what-is-the-construction-industry-scheme I don't believe a self builder is considered to be a contractor. So no need to collect money from sub contractors. See also.. http://www.property-tax-portal.co.uk/taxarticle54.shtml It refers to property developers being contractors but I don't think self builders count as property developers. So remind us what you are building?

Google Earth may have historic aerial views. Fire it up, navigate to location, select view -> historic views. Adjust slider at the top to some earlier date, wait for screen to refresh. Perhaps you can show no change since 2008? I haven't worked out exactly where the site is on the link you posted earlier.

I think Part 4 of the GPDO is also what allows builders to live on site so I don't think he is in breech of planning just by living there. The planners would have to prove he's not carrying out operations (eg not building). That might seem difficult but suppose he claimed progress was very slow because he had a bad heart or other health problems - then that might be good evidence he can't be a building. Children can't be site workers either so presumably he's not got any kids living there with him? If he's been there since 2008 it won't be long before he's been there 10 years. However I think he has to be in breech of planning for 10 years before the council loose the power to take enforcement action. If they consider that he has been a legit site worker all this time then the 10 years hasn't started yet :-)

In which case I would make sure you choose a stove that doesn't tar up it's glass. We have two wood burners, one is a Clearview stove and the other is a European made fire insert. Both burn the same wood which is usually a well seasoned mix of oak and ash. The Clearview is great but the fire insert manages to obscure it's glass rapidly. If used all day it would need cleaning at least every other day. Some say you just rub it with newspaper, well no way would that work for me. It's not dry soot, its more like the sticky tar you sometimes find on a beach. We have to use something like HG stove glass cleaner to get it off and it's a very messy job requiring plenty of protection for you, the floor and the fire surround. There is also a nice stainless steel gasket with sharp edges to be cleaned.

Perhaps not the best wood. It burns a bit fast and can produce a lot of tar.

Google found this.. https://www.pitchup.com/how-start-campsite-caravan-park/ and then. Elsewhere it suggests the rules for camping in tents is more restrictive than for caravans.

Now that you mention it, it does look a bit like one of those devices used to collect a sample from a horse.