Ferdinand

Hi @Lucy Murray (I hope you negotiated your purchase price down or it was low enough already !) While you do not have a Wayleave, you may be able to do something by working with your neighbours who would like their poles moved, or even buying the bit of land where they are located in order to be in a position to deal with your wire via dealing with the poles, as you then *would* have a Wayleave. We have talked about wayleaves and how to move them at some length in this other thread, which was a summary of a previous thread on ebuild: There may be variance of law or terminology due to Scottish Law etc, but the underlying principles should be compatible. Read my long post on that thread and replies for a start in connection with the following summary: 1 - There are two types of Wayleaves - Voluntary and Necessary. "Voluntary" means roughly that you have the basic right to tell them to move it after giving formal notice (maybe a 12 month notice period) - which will be in the Wayleave Agreement. "Necessary" means roughly that they have a right to keep it there, so have a basis for charging you as you want to prejudice their interest. In both cases a nominal rent may be involved. My impression is that Voluntary Wayleaves are more likely with older arrangements, since I do not think that "loopholes" like that would be left open now. (*) The one that I had moved was from the 1950s. 2 - In your case you do not have a Wayleave for your oversailing cable. Asking for one to be created may help you by making you an acknowledged party, and bring in a couple of hundred. That is probably a diversion from the main issue, which is you wanting that wire moved. 3 - One way to move your cable free or less expensively is to know that the poles at each side are Voluntary Wayleaves, and getting the owners of the poles to have them moved. If they are householders they could jump at the opportunity, especially if you are doing the limited amount of donkeywork and just presenting them with letters to sign etc. Obviously keep quiet about the exact amount of money this could save you and that you *must* move it if is so, or some people might play financial games with you. If it is a Necessary Wayleave you need to look at the agreement to see what it says to see if there is any potential benefit or anything you can use. 4 - Another option which may be doable is to buy that square meter of land where the pole(s) sit from the owner, then the agreement is transferred to you and you become the owner able to give notice. May be advantageous to make sure you are not forced to share any benefit with the pole-owner. I think that would be doable, You could also perhaps become the pole owners agent in law, but that is being complex for the sake of it. The easy way is to align their interests with yours and help them with the admin. 5 - You get a copy of the Wayleave Agreement from the relevant network operator by phoning up or emailing and talking to their "Wayleave Department", and giving them the 6-figure Grid Reference and Identity Details from the pole (take a piccy). They like the full address and postcode as well. You may get away without telling them you own the pole - just ask the basic question. But they *may * want* consent from the landowner. I am not sure whether Wayleave Agreements are public data. You could also potentially get the agreementa by submitting a Freedom of Information request, as DNOs (Distribution Network Operators) are Statutory Corporations and subject to FOI law. The question is still whether the Agreement is in the scope public data. Do as much homework as you can, then start by phoning up and asking. Even reception will send you to the right place quickly. Here is a list of DNOs, but dig around their own website to find the right contact as far as you can: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Our-company/Electricity/Distribution-Network-Operator-Companies/ There is a little bit of homework here, which may achieve nothing, but if the circs are with you it could save you everything. Best of luck. Ferdinand (*) I got the poles on the way to being removed before I sold my multi-house plot which decreased the downside by removing one risk for the purchaser, and this thread explains how background knowledge and digging saved someone £10k. You need to know the relevant stuff they are under no obligation to tell you. (**) Feeding the woodpeckers may help , though they may be high-creosote-content woodpeckers by now. On the other hand the Woodpecker Men may turn up and demand that that pole be left exactly where it is forever! Or you may be able to get the cost of necessary work due to the woodpeckers taken off your quote.

I think I would describe the role of SPONS as a sanity check, in particular to prevent huge mistakes through inexperience or ignorance. Paying 25 per sqm OTT for 250sqm of brickwork (say) is a chance to lose a lot in one go. Thtat sits alongside the stuff we all do to different extents to save a few percent here, and a few hundred ukp there. Ferdinand

You could have a further door made for the end panel if needed.

Which branch did you say it was?

@hmpmarketing, One neat, and adjustable later should you wish, idea is to use what I call "Patio Feet" made by a company called Wallbarn - as below. They call them "Adjustable Support Pads". They are intended for supporting decks and paving on roofing, or raised off the ground, and cost from about a £2 for fixed low ones to about £5-10 each (depending on the height), and support up to hundreds of kg. IIRC mine were about £4-5 each, and I used them at corner joints between pavers. There are shims available (or we can make our own) which are designed to correct angles, but could be used to create angles for your ramp. For steeper angles one side of the support pad (which is a separate unit to the screw) could be cut off using a saw appropriate to tough plastic. Given appropriate pavers (I used 3x2 pressed council slabs for my patio), a ramp could be created that can be turned into generous steps by adjusting a few supports, or vice-versa should you want steps now and a wheelchair or run-down-the-world buggy later. The one proviso is that these require, or require you to create, a firm base .. though that could be made from a timber framework or MOT Type I (is that the one that turns into a compacted pan?). I guess that those eggcrate-full-of-gravel low impact foundations may potentially be a suitable base. Or breezeblocks bedded 25-50mm into the ground. There is a tradeoff between the size and strength of slab vs qty of patio feet. Not suitable for mosaic pavements. I like that I can raise my patio should I ever need to get underneath for maintenance. Ferdinand

@recoveringacademic WHich year edition are you using? I assume it is the Builders' one. It looks like one of those purchases which are worthwhile when doing a big project especially with little experience, and of diminishing usefulness for perhaps the next 5 years as a more and more general guide, but useful as a source for concepts and how to structure thinking. And I guess as a comparison tool for different approaches. I see that there are different ones for Landscaping. Engineering, and Mechanical and Electrical, all at £150 too. Ferdinand

One feels slightly heckled . Last time I asked this question I skirted around the need to buy a chainsaw, however I now have a couple of reasonably sized but not large trees that need a trim. B&Q have discontinued this option, but I see that the Oregan Powersharp system is available on a 2000W Qualqast (!) corded chainsaw from Argos (link) at £79.95. That looks like a good deal if an Electric Saw is suitable, given that the Powersharp system to retrofit costs approx £60. Looks badge engineered in exactly the same way as the B&Q. Chain speed 13.5 m/s. F

Could someone confirm which are the chainsaws at B&Q with the built in sharpening system? Thanks F

Local dancing friend with a house? Ferdinand

Just to help @PeterW sleep easy tonight, here is the list of 786 Powers of Entry from Primary Legislation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/98389/primary-powers-entry.csv/preview and here is the list of 554 Powers of Entry from Secondary Legislation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/98391/secondary-powers-entry.csv/preview This is old data (2011) but the best I can find. Peter will be delighted to know that the Outer Space Act 1986 allows them to inspect any of his neighbours who are from another planet: F

It depends on who and what. Eg if they want to visit a rented property to enforce or enter under certain laws notice has to be served on the LL so that they can attend. Quite often things fail because they have cocked up the tick boxes. It is rather like LLs often have Court Claims fail because they have got a form of wording wrong. In any case they may get away with eg a laser measure in such circs, at least to get the enforcement visit authorised. There is a Code Of Practice here, which says 48 hours should be normal, but it is not binding. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/powers-of-entry-code-of-practice There was a vapourware review under the Coalition which removed a small number of powers of entry. Apparently a Commercial or a Private Landlord can no longer enter premises in order to recover fraudulently obtained goods under a 1737 Act for example. (Add: being slightly too cynical. It seems the review reduced the number of Powers of Entry in Legislation from 1337 to 912, which excludes all the assumed ones eg where the RSPCA have been piggybacking on police powers of entry for decades). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/powers-of-entry F

What is on the other side of your boundary, and what is your relationship with whoever is there? Planning will come and look if someone complains, and usually they would be complaining if they feel they are impacted in a way which is different to your permission and unacceptable to them. Though some may complain just to keep pressure on you. If this does not happen you are more likely to avoid complaints. However, Planning will should only be interested in the Approved Plans, and will should refuse to get involved in any arguments about boundaries etc. However, if your plan shows your build x distance from something they know about (eg something in your plan), and it is actually y distance on the ground, then all bets are potentially off. Planning do not always stay out of things they should stay out of, and vice versa. If you have an aged wrought iron fence, then you are lucky to have a good boundary feature. I think you need to be sure that the various boundary features on the other side are actually where you think they are on your ground survey, so you have multiple datums and can defend your decisions. Ground levels can be adjusted within reason, especially if they are not explicit on your approved plan. That sounds ambiguous, because it *can* be ambiguous. Ferdinand

Smooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth !

Has anyone done this for your self-build with suppliers of materials, services or equipment? (Note to the wise: suggest not to mention any company names here). I think a lot of us have dabbled with Trade Accounts at Wickes or B&Q or a few other suppliers, where the first time you order £300 or £500 of almost anything you can probably use it to obtain "Trade Terms" (ie 0% to 10% off). But has anyone done it with particular suppliers of eg flooring or driveway blocks or windows? For those expensive elements of our builds, I can see the advantage in becoming er a temporary dealer. eg if I needed £10k in driveway blocks or flooring I can see the advantage in becoming a temporary dealer in that line. If i have my partner in the Client role, then we even have a ready-made supply chain. I can see that such a setup would work less well for low margin products (bricks or insulation?) or high complexity products (3G windows?) due to the small potential savings or the need for technical input and a qualification process, or where significant savings are possible, but there must be opportunities. Has anyone done anything interesting here? Once I have some comments, I will summarise on the master savings thread.

Just bought some of this. Cheers @PeterW. Ferdinand

Edited.

You could use Vinyl tiles, or Flotex tiles. Both are available in a large range of patterns and suitable for all rooms, and will help with a warm floor feeling. Flotex is also perhaps better for kids to play on. And they clean under the tap. F

On occasion I have gone into Screwfix and asked to look at about 8-10 similar items before buying one sort. You could do that. They have always been amenable. The only one which ever raised eyebrows was when I looked at about 6 different sorts of security safe, and they were still tolerant despite the weight.

Just ordered one :-). I find fingerprints on the ally parts to be a bigger issue for me. At home we have not cleaned our smoked glass hood parts in about in 4 years. It hurts if you bang your head on the corner of it, mind. Tends to be a man problem due to height.

Are there serviced plots available more widely now?

I do not think this is a Canadian thing. Surely it is just a sensible thing? It is not just shaving and cosmetics and toothbrushes, it is towels and heaven knows what else, including all the stuff that a lot of us put in the modified roof voids of our top half-storey now. Sufficient storage and then double it. I blame estate agents for wanting to make the main bit of rooms bigger. Kitchen units are often better quality than bathroom ones, anyway, and are available in the next bay along in the shop, or for only a few 10s of ukp. And the kitchen wall ones are available at half the depth. What about a larder unit the size of an old airing cupboard? Admittedly I have never lived in a genuinely developer built house, but even those can fit a vanity unit round the whb. Even say a 1940s or 1950s house would have some sort of storage related to the b/room - say 1.2m x 600mm x floor to ceiling. Some of that for us is now in utility rooms with the washers, and bathrooms have become vanity grooming spaces. This was our previous bathroom which was fitted with kitchen units circa 198x. You can just see the corner of the bath, and if you turn around there was a slightly expansive experimental shower cum steam room which has space for two plastic garden chairs inside it, and room to shower at the other side. Then there is the full height double larder cupboard with another cupboard above it, with the washing machine and the dryer and the hot water tank. Admittedly a generous 15x15ft-sh. But it was cold in winter. Now I want a look at some Lutyens or C R Mackintosh or Hampstead Garden Suburb or London County bathrooms to see how they did it. F

Absolutely - horses for courses ! The least expensive coordinated OK but not brilliant collections of all 5 I have seen are probably Ikea Lagan, but that would not be cool these days depending on your customers. They used to have noticeably good warranties, but that has I think gone. II think I will be going with a ceramic with control by knobs, just in case of poor eyesight etc. My original kitchen budget was a hands-wavy £1500-£2000 plus appliances, but I will be above that as I am aiming for a slightly higher level rental with oak-veneer doors etc. For me the price difference is small enough that it is worth it for the oven - plus I have a stash of Currys gift cards to use. F

Following on, NEFF Induction hobs. This is the best I have spotted, but there seem to be numbers of offers around from some independents. And the hob as something like this NEFF T40B31X2GB at £349 (Currys price for similar model : NEFF T40B30X2GB = £449 minus 10% voucher code) http://www.whitakers-appliances.co.uk/neff-t40b31x2gb-induction-hob/ which comes with a free set of 4 Neff Induction pans (rrp £120 but there seems to have been a general offer from Neff so ebay is heaving with new sets at £30 or so): http://www.whitakers-appliances.co.uk/free-pan-set-with-neff-induction-hobs/ That offer may work for @Crofter due to the price and the free pans, but I am advised to go for a Ceramic due to traditional conservatism of tenants in my area. I wrote about the price comparisons with Howdens and Appliances Direct here: Ferdinand

Talking about hobs a bit more specifically as I did the oven in the last post. Extractors are to be had from anywhere for the £60-£90 range, so not much potential for savings above about £15-20. So I am looking for a set of oven + hob for a faily well equipped rental (Oak Veneer doors etc), to go with a "Greenwich Shaker Oak" Howdens kitchen. I am looking at cheaper but not totally basic package 1 - Fan-assist oven / OK Ceramic hob, and more impressive package 2 - Ceramic/pyrolitic oven and induction hob. Background. * The Howdens own range Lamona were about £430 + VAT for package 1, and quite a bit more for package 2. * Howdens stock Bosch and Neff, but the prices were off the scale. Not their core business, nor a loss-leader; go elsewhere. * Appliances Direct own brand Electronique were £275 + VAT for package 1, and £510 + VAT for package 2 (pyrolitic + induction). I have never had trouble woth Appliances Direct own brand, but if I did their Midlands' Hub is only 10 minutes away. * Boschs and Neffs online can give package 1 for perhaps £550-£600 online, but looking at NEFFs the package 2 can be purchased for under £700, which for me makes it an attractive option with the slight risk that a tradition tenant might not like induction. Items: That leaves the oven as Curry's sale item "Slide and hide" Neff at £419 minus 10% voucher code. http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/cooking/ovens/neff-b44s32n5gb-slide-hide-electric-oven-stainless-steel-10143345-pdt.html And the hob as something like this NEFF T40B31X2GB at £349 (Currys price for similar model : NEFF T40B30X2GB = £449 minus 10% voucher code) http://www.whitakers-appliances.co.uk/neff-t40b31x2gb-induction-hob/ which comes with a free set of 4 Neff Induction pans (rrp £120 but there has been a general offer from Neff so ebay is heaving with new sets at £30 or so: http://www.whitakers-appliances.co.uk/free-pan-set-with-neff-induction-hobs/ That offer may work for @Crofter, but I am advised to go for a Ceramic due to traditional mores of tenants. Ferdinand

We have one which is annealed glass in roughly international orange. Expensive (several hundred) but pretty good. And gives a surprisingly effective counterpoint to a light birch kitchen. Just do not get the size slightly too large. This printed one looks to be fun at £135 for 600x600 in toughened glass: eg http://www.mysplashbacks.co.uk/Digitally-Printed-Splashbacks/473/Bald-Eagles They do custom with your own photos. Ferdinand