CalvinHobbes

Hello, in Northern Ireland we pay rates on houses, both unoccupied and occupied unless you can prove a building is uneconomic to fix up. The bar is high apparently, even a missing wall or hole in the roof may not qualify the house for exemption. The house we want zero rated is due to be demolished in the next 2 month, we have planning permission, it's derelict, the floor is unstable because the house it's attached to has missing floors. It's thoroughly rotten with a structural fault. The roof would need replaced and missing bits to put tiles on. Any suggestions what actually will qualify?

Thanks, good to know.

I know I have done the landlords job but I want to stay here till our house is up. Oh and this is what I did with out of date baking soda bunged in for good measure. 🤣🤣 it probably had no effect, I think the hose and pressure just pushed it free that last bit (after the rods).

Thank you, tried a load of baking powder, used the rods, did the video thing where you put a hose in and cover it with cloths and plastic to build up pressure and da da, it worked.

Used the rods and powerhose, a bit better but renting this place and would rather not spend a lot. Is there a chemical that I could use? Cheers

After talking to family members (chemists) I would love to use a decent filter on the ventilation for our new house. Any recommendations?

We have just got our planning permission for cavity wall house so very pleased. 😁 Architect doing construction drawings then out to tender. One builder said he would want to just do up to walls and roof then we can finish rest with the various trades. I guess this is cheaper than getting someone to give it to us turnkey? Any tips?

Looks fab, thanks for showing it.

Your car insurance will not pay out if you have the wrong address, you need to change your car reg docs and driving licence too by law. Not sure about banks and credit ratings.

Fair, I have a lot to learn even to become a DEA at this point, nor do I want to feck up/ tick the wrong boxes. 😬 I have seen the training for NDEA's, Sap assessors etc, thermal etc.

£35, could that be part of the problem? Do you think going for the cheapest could compromise the standard? It shouldn't, obviously - the code of conduct and insurance is there for a reason. I would be extremely annoyed if I received or gave a substandard epc.

As a self builder honestly I appreciate your feeling, the sheer fecking expense of everything is awful. That said there is a point for at least some of it. You can't depend on people's honesty sadly and a new buyer needs something independent to go on.

I was told to tell clients to expect me to be there for between an hour and an hour and a half. I don't understand how anyone could do 12. Unless possibly in social housing but there are strict protocols. If you are unhappy complain to their accreditation body, it should be on the end of the epc.

I suppose if they are still working but we are told to use the latest software and obviously it updates so the assessor has no influence over the algorithms. Also we are given conventions which are supposed to be applied. I think there are small things that you can watch out for. Like a plug in electric heater shouldn't be included but there is an exception. So basically, I personally wouldn't have it on view. Still on the course,I appreciate hearing complaints/issues.

I am sure you all already know this but as we are preparing to build this has been a useful lesson for me in what we should look out for when making buying decisions for our new home. I hadn't realised that even doors had certificates and sometimes we can accept receipts for certain things. This means a lot for EPC ratings which will be increasingly important when selling or renting. Our golden rule is that if you can't see it, it doesn't exist. The owner has to prove otherwise. Houses should all come with manuals I suppose.

Presumably being n N.Ireland we won't have to pay the customs? So why would somebody in England just not get it sent to NI? Then get it sent over.....or is that smuggling? Incidently our local Sainsburys has so many empty shelves, worse since the P&O thing. Whereas the irish supplied shops are grand.

Cheers

https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/path-low-pressure-drop-across-high-merv-filter/

Hiya, we are doing a granny flat and my mum has problems with steps so we are going to use ramps. Also I wanted to ask about sliding doors and entrance doors. We went to visit a new build extension and she tripped over the sliding door entrance because it was raised. I thought that just happened on retrofit? Can you get flat to floor entrances? Anything else anyone can suggest safety wise will be appreciated.

Same. Nerve wracking.

So do I turn the white handle or the bolt? The water flowing is reducing inside the house so guessing it must just be water left in pipe network.

I cut another pipe so another flood ongoing. If I went out to the footpath and opened up this again, how do I turn off the water to the house? Thanks

It used to stop the water to the whole house but I am not convinced it does anymore.

Sorry the thing I called a stop cock was turned off in the kitchen was this...

Ignore this its stopped leaking .😁 Removing copper tank prior to demo. Turned off stop cock in kitchen. Drained copper tank for at least an hour, it was just dribbling at the sink....started cutting copper pipe at top of tank and whoosh. Came outside to road, figured I might be able to turn it off from there ...no idea what this is. Took polystyrene out...white stick thing 😬