Jilly

It’s almost like actual physics has strayed by a quantum leap into metaphysics. Maybe temperature is analogous to a benzene ring…

Well I think it looks nice 😊

Keep a close eye, especially if it’s on day rate. It’s good that you are on site all the time. On day one, I noticed a door gap was in the wrong place, luckily hadn’t gone too far. Think course correction the whole time…

So onto the list for the revised offer.

You could look for the Building Control Certificate number, not sure if it is there or you’ve removed it. It might have BN or FP in the code. Then ring the relevant Building Control and ask them if they have copies. One other thing which might be causing confusion is if they used a private building control company. Many of them went bust, post Grenfell, which could account for missing paperwork. Many people were left in the lurch mid build, around that time. I don’t think this sounds dodgy, it just looks like they did the minimum to jump through hoops and no more and perhaps kept their head down over things that weren’t noticed. Can you keep a cost tally of things that need regularising, to deduct from your final offer?

It’s not needed for a conversion (unless things have changed recently) but that wouldn’t apply to this case.

Not sure this makes sense: if that is a Building regs sign off for the stable conversion, the electric, windows etc and other certs would have been provided at the time, for the BC officer, so I can understand if they didn’t keep them as theoretically there is no need. BC should have copies on their files. Note the council Planning department is separate from Building Control and they don’t really speak to each other. Call them for clarification/ help with searches. The regs are slightly different for conversions compared to new build. Not all planning conditions actually need to be formally discharged , so find out which they are referring to. If they’ve been ignored, take a view as to why. It should all be there on the planning portal for you to see. You can do a lot of this yourself if your solicitor is slow/unsure. It can be very painful. Ask us for advice on each matter you are unsure of. Spending a lot of money does your head in and makes you irrational when you are emotionally involved. You clearly want this property really. Location, location, location. If it’s the land you want, resolve to find a way through. Nothing is insurmountable. Eg you can get an electrical certificate easily enough. You could even change windows if you had to, although it won’t come to that. Look at the little kite mark in the corner of the windows, it will tell you what they are. A structural survey should tell you the important stuff. Adjust your offer in view of your findings. Think of it as a game of chess. Think laterally and logically and push on… Oh, and good luck.

More ‘granny annexes’ for relatives, older or younger, are a simple solution, and could be included in the number of homes.

Cost (within reason) is surprisingly low on the list as the labour to fit the floor is similar.

Do they not make bunded tanks like those for oil?

Do we have to go as far as poisoning people…?

Just shows it’s so subjective and a matter of luck. There have been single house developments near me , where people have expressed surprise at the size after the event, but didn’t look into it/ care enough to complain before.

Start a small community bus company…?

Counterintuitive, but my architect was instrumental in getting us planning permission.

I think they particularly like buses, and trains for sustainability.

How about putting a ceiling hanging curtain up (or getting someone else to, that is)? You could gradually desensitise yourself and pull it back gradually (or decrease the thickness/sheerness)? It could be a cheap way to save yourself from a design faux pas. Alternatively, I’ve seen vertical wooden slats with gaps used effectively, in magazines, for dividing spaces.

Why not get your architect to design something? I’m not sure a coloured plastic wall is the way forward…

I revisit this idea from time to time when I see how awful their living conditions are. I do already help as much as I can.

Yes, they have asked, and I can see that they need it. They are in the south, so not a cheap area. They are currently renting and the house is far from ideal: one child has a bedroom, the other sleeps on the landing (landlord promised they would create a bedroom 2 years ago and it hasn’t happened) and my sibling sleeps in the modest kitchen/living room. Their rent is expensive and could be going towards a house and some stability in my eyes. These living conditions exacerbate mental health issues. It’s very difficult for people to drag themselves out of this kind of situation without help of some kind. People have helped me, and I feel we all need to pass it on in a caring society. It sounds simple, but it is not so easy to just move to a cheaper area, where there will be no friends or family support.

Thanks everyone. I know there are a heap of pitfalls, not least due to the temperament differences which have made us 'lucky' and them 'unlucky' with their previous life choices. The father is in dire straits himself and unable to support them. This has to be a protective safety net which I have been lucky enough to have. Communicating the difference between the gift of a fishing rod vs the fish is the issue...

A family member struggles with life. They have kids and their father (not living with them) is very ill. I want to help them buy a property as rents are so expensive (as is property) for their future security, but everything is just on the wrong side of affordability. They can’t move to a cheaper area as the one good thing in their lives is that the children are at a very good secondary school. Any creative ideas on how to make this work, and the pitfalls to look out for?

There is a company which makes a coffin shaped tank to collect rainwater in the eaves for loo flushing. It wouldn’t work in a bungalow though

Just gorgeous!!

I’m not on your list, but I like what you are implying. I had grand ideals, if not designs, to incorporate these and was disappointed to be thwarted due to the cost of them all. Self building can seem to be endless compromise. Form and function plus meaningful subsidies? I suspect things could be very simple if cleverly designed, but need to look good (or be hidden) and be ‘affordable’. Experiment with a garden building? There are lots of Heath Robinson low impact ideas which might work at scale.

They did the water thing to save money: it's possible to have a sub meter, but it's frowned upon, but it didn't matter when they owned both houses. It would be better to sort out your own supply which will probably mean a road dig and house dig. You can ring the water co and get a quote (few £10000) and knock that off the price or get them to pay. It's not the end of the world, but more hassle. It might be worth confirming that none of the other services are shared?