Hecateh

I am going to contact them tomorrow it's very helpful to know that what I am thinking is supported

no searching online for a CSSR engineer I can find 2 in the whole of Yorkshire, 1 in Leeds and 1 in Doncaster

Currently the tanking is done and finished, and floors are going in. So now what happens? Anyone had any experience of this

Plus 1

My son wants me to have granite or composite worktops. I'm on a budget which has already been decimated - laminate has served me well in this house for 18 years and is still going strong - I am mid 60's - stuff paying for anything else - he can put his choice in when it is his LOL to be fair - he has been treated much more gently on here than he would have been elsewhere. I haven't seen anyone being particularly rude about someone who seems to be saying that he doesn't care if his houses are any good - so long as he makes a BIG profit

Oh dear - that's a nightmare - certainly not advisable - what happened?

There will always be a hierarchy is very true - mob rule also applies. They are all so brave because they back each other up and there is only one of me Patriarchy isn't even a sociological construct either - you only have to watch apes to realise that.

Thanks again folks, It really helps

Thanks - it really is only this site that has kept me sane. I knew intellectually that neighbours could be ***** but really hadn't considered it here, probably because I have lived here longer than any of the (and in my family since 1950) and in their situations I know I would have accepted it. I have realised I really don't care if I speak to them ever again once it is all over so not too worried on that front. It's just that I am trying to do the right thing and still getting hassle As I've said elsewhere - at least this forum helps me know I am not alone

As it happens - my current house was built for my grandparents and none of their houses were there, I know for a fact, that my aunt, who lived here after my grandparents died, did not want any of their houses built. (None of current owners lived there then as they have all come after me) Totally see where you are coming from with the cracked drive. My builder even went to apologise after the lorry on the block paving and said he would pay for any damage. Sounds a bit like (but not totally) my request for emails or mobiles. They seem scared to give them me 'in case I may harass them FFS Make a new address ( - like I have done to give them lol ... I am not that stupid)

Thanks all - Over the last 9 weeks there have been 4 issues only one of them being something My Project did wrong. Access is limited and despite having instructions to use the grab this driver decided he could dump stuff and in getting into position drove onto a block paved drive. I went ballistic at this as I believe it is perfectly reasonable for neighbours to expect us NOT to do this. These drives are not designed for heavy lorries and I insisted that the rest of the deliveries were done as agreed. The other 3 are all neighbours being unreasonable and annoying the builders to the extent they don't want to be helpful. '@F)*&)*& move that now;' is not a reasonable request to move so they can get off their drive. I had a neighbour knock at my door telling me the builders had laughed at his wife when she asked them to clean the mess off the road. Before I could mention it I was told that the said woman (70+) Had told them to 'Get that f*&^*&^ road cleaned. All that was on the road was grit/salt spread by another neighbour. But it's getting so that, if I know there is going to be a delivery, I am awake half the night worrying about it

They are causing me more sleepless nights than 1000's of pounds extra spend. I want to be reasonable but don't see why I should go round with notes for every single delivery when they won't give me an easy way of doing this.

So so true

What are legal requirements/reasonable expectations of neighbours re notice of deliveries, which temporarily block the road. I'm on a cul de sac 3 neighbours restricted Despite twice asking - and giving them mine - they have not given me email addresses or mobiles nos to keep them updated

It is - this site is the only thing that has enabled me to (just) hold onto my sanity. Coping with the stresses of self building without a SO was always going to be stressful but this site has given me somewhere I can ask questions, research how others have dealt with things and (maybe most of all) realising that I am not the only one stressed out with the horrible wonderful life of self build - even though I am not actually doing it myself.

on this site it doesn't matter what your 'job' is or what type of building you are doing. You will be treated as an individual (however much we may have issues with individual architects, planning departments, builders, suppliers or any other sector we come into contact with) according to how you are as a person. I am pretty new here but know I can ask anything, share any experience or make any suggestion so long as it is done in the spirit of sharing and with respect - and where possible a sense of humour. This site is amazing

No cure for man flu

Done - interesting looking at the results so far. The age group with the biggest number of builders being in the 50 - 65 age group. Only a small number of responses so far though. I must remember to go back and look later

great link price reduced from £40 to ........................................................... £40 eerrrrrrrrrrrrrr

As a franchise though surely, legally, they should set up a limited company, otherwise, they are technically employed. I don't really know that much about, only what I learned 'self employed' as a trainer, nvq assessor - and knowing that my sister, who worked on contract for Zurich had to set up a company to put her money through as otherwise she was classed as employed despite doing other occasional work

Strict rules about what counts as self employed these days. If you work only for one company wit agreed hours then you are NOT 'self employed'. (If all their other work is cash in hand they can't count it 'cos that's illegal anyway) To be self employed you have to be 'offered' work and be able to turn it down - if you don't have the option to turn it down without suffering repercussions then it is not 'self employed' The way round this is to be working under contract - but to do that you need to work for, or be, a limited company When it suits both sides though it rarely attracts the attention of the INLR

People that want a bigger house but are unable to sell are frequently finding it makes more sense to extend than to move. The cost of extending a property has far fewer variables for both the owner and the builder. Utilities are already on site, can often be done under permitted development rules etc etc. So the property market being slow doesn't necessarily mean that builders are struggling for work. My neighbours are just building a large extension and put feelers out to loads of builders. Ones that came highly recommended were either ridiculously high priced c £1800 per sq m or more for a build that is 50% garage or weren't willing to quote as their books were full for up to a year - with a waiting list. I got a 'good' deal as my builder hasn't built a house from scratch before. He's been in the business for 15 years and previously had a business with his FIL and has plenty of experience of extensions. I'm confident I will get a good house for what I am paying but there is definitely an extra risk involved if only that his company is fairly new.

There’s normally no Inheritance Tax to pay if either: the value of your estate is below the £325,000 threshold That lets me out anyway

You seem to have done a circular link here - it leads back to this discussion. I'm aware of the 7 year rule (went through it all a few years ago with my parents who had a lot more money than me) - 3 years down, I'm still breathing and both parents lived into their 90's. Maybe this message was meant more for the OP Lora

Another consideration is interest on the mortgage, This is a bigger factor for me as, on a bridging loan the interest are eye watering (but still lower than I was paying on a standard mortgage 20 years ago), But the more you do yourself the longer it takes and the more interest you will pay .