ToughButterCup

You've had enough haven't you. Pissed off doesn't begin to cover how you feel. And you find this site and a bell goes off in your head. You read like mad and it looks like you might be able to do something which means you can be in charge of your own destiny. Hope. Been there. It's *king awful. Nobody can take that hope away from you. Nobody. So how about this.... Read this site from end to end. Look at the vast array of problems we all help one another with. Every single one of them (almost) is solvable. None of us here are quitters. None. Warm your hands on the warmth and energy this site gives all of us who decide to give as well as receive. Make a list of the main things that are between your current situation and your aim. Search here (buildhub) on how we've all sorted out exactly the same ones a s you have now. Read in detail. Then work out how you are going to solve all of those problems. One by one. Don't worry about then order in which you solve them. They're all related. Remember how pissed off you are now and use that to reach your aim. Not having enough money is an asset. It makes you think. Hard. Being hard up is no excuse not to start and keep trying. We have taken about 35 or so years (Land bought 1980s) And don't give up.

@canalsiderenovation, a thought. Theres a group of people living near us who have used the River Lune for just such a hair-brained project. Its called Halton Lune Hydro. Its being going for over 10 years. They have open days every year - there will be a significant number of people there who can at least point you in the right direction. They also built a series of passivhauses way back then. Thats why we know of them. Very helpful people indeed. Halton is ust at Junction 32 on the M6

There's a good argument to be made that both parties are at fault here. Both of you could have checked.

Lets see if this is correct.... He knew from the outset he should have charged 15% VAT because of the Occupancy rule. He appears to have misrepresented ( allegedly deliberately) the VAT requirement as 5% He has overcharged you for a week's work. About £1600 It is a normal requirement for customers to do their own Due Diligence. Most don't. Assuming that in this case you did (check the VAT rate), then you could have challenged the VAT rate. You didn't. In terms of the overpayment (£1600), you could have done your Due Diligence before paying that invoice. You could have challenged it at the time. You didn't. Is all of that correct? There lots online about Due Diligence in the building context.

I've just had a PM from someone asking about our piling company. So it reminded me.... Our piling company worked in partnership with a foundations wiring team. The lads formed and shaped rebar at a speed that made it look like they were handling plastic straws. Muscles were .... well I don't think they needed steroids working that hard and that fast. East European to a man. Their price was an order of magnitude lower than the others. To the extent that I was dubious about employing them. In the context of skills shortages in the building sector, not giving well qualified workers visas will impose unnecessary costs.

Fiterra mothballed our local brick works (Claughton) a year or so ago. The local clay makes beautiful bricks. https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/business/iconic-lancaster-brickworks-to-be-mothballed-as-housebuilding-slump-hits-demand-4376219

That's a really interesting thing to say. In the context of this thread, to what extent do you think Mr Farage can be said to be Conservative? What are his views on Housing Targets?

Now there's a well thought through, balanced argument. Oh, sorry 2 .... And Conservatives also - it was rumoured - run out of other people's money . I am not for or against Socialist ideas or Hayek's ideas or anything that comes out of Tufton Street I'm for balanced, thoughtful, well argued . evidence based co-operation - Left and Right together.

Please read the discussion about a responsible person in the thread linked to in my previous post. It's about 6 paragraphs from the start. I am not an expert. But I am watching your back.

How about a tweak to the Start Within 3 Years rule? How about Finish Within 3 Years or face a fine? Oops, except for self builders 😡

If - stress IF - you are a Domestic Client, CDM does not apply to you. Unless the law has changed recently, Here's why. I cannot overstress if you are a domestic client

With any luck Martin Goodall will suspend his retirement. And Nick Boles (Tory Planning Minister) has been approached to work with Labour. Now that'll be interesting Cross-The-Aisle co-operation if that comes off.

Where's that? You couldn't get that price locally...

I needed to hire a digger (still not stopped blubbering about having had to sell mine) . I live close to a gaggle of hire shops (Morecambe and Lancaster) , so I did a Royal Progress round them all yesterday. Better to look the guy in the eye to say stuff like " You're charging how much for diesel? " " Trying to charge me £40 for insurance eh? At least Dick Turpin was honest enough to wear a mask" " Hit me with the deposit charge again --- that was £500 wasn't it? --- I'm just hiring one digger not three" " Cleaning charge is how much - just for reference show me the digger - because the last time I hired one it arrived in sh1te order - and nobody whispered a word." Taking me (with some pride) round his warehouse --- and here's the point --- the warehouse was full. And so were all the others. All the other providers had plenty of stock . @nod was right wasn't he about forecasting the down-turn ( can't find the thread just yet) This time last year you couldn't get a digger for love nor money. Same with you?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/08/labour-15m-homes-new-towns?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

For my neighbour it (sustainability) meant Refusal. How do I know? Because the Decision Notice said so. And the only difference in our planning applications was the date. His was about a year or more later than mine. You point to a key issue @SteamyTea. Sustainability will have to be defined more carefully. Angels will be dancing on pin heads soon.

It already is. Ours was outsourced to a private company. On the more general point, if you consistently take money out of Local Government, then you get what you deserve. Poor service. And the entirely specious argument that the process should be taken into the private sector. Because LPA planners are failing. Of course they are. There used to be a name for it Austerity

A 110 pipe ....?

Nobody has shown the slightest interest in my SUDS stuff. Lots of effort, lots of commitment - the BCO couldn't have given a stinking stuff . Police SUDS - I'd love to see that .... love it

... and even that's shimmed. Looks like a job for our hero : @Pocster . If he can't bodge it nobody can.

Thanks for the link to the resource @SteamyTea. Band A. The house is less than half the size of your place.

In our road, there is a house known as The Cheat House. It is sandwiched in the gap between two existing houses. In plan, it resembles a wedge of cheese. The front is one window and one door wide, the rear is one skinny door wide. I need to turn sideways to get through. Internally, the side walls are rubble faced with local stone . The internal stairs are spectacular. If you take ill up there it would take a mountain rescue team to get you out. Quicker probably to remove the window. Noise is better damped in a caravan full of drunken shagging teenagers. Light the fire, and the house (our old place) nextdoor has radiant heat walls. Christ knows what it's Rateable Value might be. One person-living at best.

" That's an interesting thing to say" Smile move on.

For those of us who 'see' better in drawings or images, could you sketch it for us - then maybe photograph it and upload it please? thanks.

Oh dear. That may well have been the case some time ago , but now, it isn't. Assessment regimes are much more rigorous than they were.