OV9

That chap in the Pennines is utterly mental though - he’ll have spent more than the house cost soon I’m sure and a lot of it is personal preference rather than necessary. Lovely to follow though.

Any older property is going to take a bit of learning and this is the proper start of that process. If you still love it after spending on it then it’s a good buy.

I thought you lot would like to see the master bathroom of a property that we’re working on at the moment.

Jobbo wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:51 pm That chap in the Pennines is utterly mental though - he’ll have spent more than the house cost soon I’m sure and a lot of it is personal preference rather than necessary. Lovely to follow though.

Any older property is going to take a bit of learning and this is the proper start of that process. If you still love it after spending on it then it’s a good buy.

Indeed. It hasn't changed we feel about the house at all, and I suppose this is the role you play as the custodian of an older home!

God knows why so many of them have been re-rendered from lime to concrete. And as our house specifically was listed Grade 2 some 50 years ago now, there's no way a conservation officer would permit the change of material. So either it was on there prior to it becoming listed, or has been changed since without notifying the council. I think probably the former.

Either way, it's not good and it's all coming off!

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:01 pm
Yeah it's definitely not unique. There's a really interesting thread on PH with a chap that bought a stone place in the Pennines and had to not only strip render (I think) but also dig out all the cement mortar and redo with lime. It gets fairly technical as to the lime mortar types!

I think I'm too scared to check that thread out at the moment

Certainly seems to be fairly common. I've found loads of old forum posts on various sites of people having the same problem..

Jimexpl wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:34 am I thought you lot would like to see the master bathroom of a property that we’re working on at the moment.

I assume that glass is one way or are they an exhibitionist?

ZedLeg wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:57 am

Jimexpl wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:34 am I thought you lot would like to see the master bathroom of a property that we’re working on at the moment.

I assume that glass is one way or are they an exhibitionist?

Here’s your answer…
It’s not on the market yet, so we’ll find out when it sells!

Assuming that's Nine Elms Lane, that is perfect height for the top deck of the buses going past to get an eyeful

House update. Had another court hearing this week which was about costs and went so-so. Got a slight uptick in costs from what the judge originally suggested, but still way off what has actually been spent.

However, the big news is that my neighbours have relented and said they will allow a surveyor into their property on Monday morning. Now, they've said this before and then simply not answered the door on the day, or cancelled a day or so prior. However, there is something different this time, in that they have a pro bono legal team who will be impressing upon them the importance of allowing access, because they are at risk of losing their home otherwise. It's quite a pivotal moment, because next Friday is the forfeiture disposal hearing, and if they both allow access and pay costs then it changes the course of this process.

Also, just to add, I never ever want to go to court again. It's the most insanely anxiety-inducing activity, it's quite unique in how stressful it is, and how it makes you feel. Events like this survey next week are literally giving me sleepless nights. The problem is that this whole process was almost unavoidable, my neighbour filed a claim against me in the first instance when I was trying to sell my property, which is what started all of this. It just turns out (sadly for everyone) they are the epitome of the boy who cried wolf.

If they end up loosing their place then they become the epitome of fuck around and find out

It ain’t much but I have started making the base for my sheet metal garage.

Alex88 wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:47 am

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:01 pm
Yeah it's definitely not unique. There's a really interesting thread on PH with a chap that bought a stone place in the Pennines and had to not only strip render (I think) but also dig out all the cement mortar and redo with lime. It gets fairly technical as to the lime mortar types!

I think I'm too scared to check that thread out at the moment

Certainly seems to be fairly common. I've found loads of old forum posts on various sites of people having the same problem..

It’s because most companies don’t know how ventilation, insulation, paints, renders, modifications affect houses.

See boarded out lifts to the edges, see spray foam insulation direct on wood, see cavity wall insulation etc etc

Dave!

Mito Man wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 9:49 pm It ain’t much but I have started making the base for my sheet metal garage.

Are you having a ramp up to it?

Jimexpl wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:34 am I thought you lot would like to see the master bathroom of a property that we’re working on at the moment.

What a view!

Jobbo wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 8:23 am

Mito Man wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 9:49 pm It ain’t much but I have started making the base for my sheet metal garage.

Are you having a ramp up to it?

Yes, that’s why I’ve left the sides longer for now, gives me something to build them off.

Gavster wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:11 am However, the big news is that my neighbours have relented and said they will allow a surveyor into their property on Monday morning. Now, they've said this before and then simply not answered the door on the day, or cancelled a day or so prior. However, there is something different this time, in that they have a pro bono legal team who will be impressing upon them the importance of allowing access, because they are at risk of losing their home otherwise. It's quite a pivotal moment, because next Friday is the forfeiture disposal hearing, and if they both allow access and pay costs then it changes the course of this process.

I really hope it goes ok today! Fingers crossed it's not another weird ploy from them.

Solar panels fitted on the garage roof today. To be connected tomorrow; I wonder if I could see how much they're generating now by licking the terminals?

Decided to get on with loads of little jobs in prep for selling.

Have three fencing companies coming to quote on replacing one side, changed the broken fan in the downstairs loo, and replaced a vent cover on the outside of the house.

Next will be fixing minor damage to the walls and filling holes from where we had stair gates fitted.

BIG update on the neighbours, they did allow access today and it confirmed exactly what we suspected - they are big-time hoarders. The entire flat is filled with bags of junk from floor to ceiling in every room, barely any space to move, let alone any space to live in. No sofa, no tables and chairs, no beds. Just massive piles of bags and boxes stacked up to the ceiling in every single room, including the bathroom, and a very narrow trail between them that leads from the front door to the toilet via the kitchen.

While they allowed access, a survey was not possible because one room was completely inaccessible and much of the flat is obstructed, meaning that not much has actually changed. The disposal hearing on Friday should set out a timeline for wrapping this up, including what they need to do to get relief from forfeiture, which will likely be to clear the property to allow a survey, and to pay costs within a certain amount of time, e.g. 3 months. It will also be the last chance saloon for them, because the order will probably say that if those terms aren't met, then it will default to possession, which is the end of the road for them.

There's light at the end of the trail?