It’s around 10 properties that stem from the one pole, so hopefully up on the priorities list.

Looks like I’ll have to make an office visit tomorrow…

I should have said that Openreach were out making it safe, before I even knew what had happened. We’re at the stage where it has been passed to the repair team and I’m not allowed to speak to them.

Listen guys, I get it, change is scary. HOWEVER, the Oxford dictionary tells me a Staycation is at home OR in one’s country of residence. If it’ll help you sleep a little easier, I’ll not cross the border into Scotland so as to qualify.

Cheers.

Whilst pen and paper might be an appropriate medium for some, my lack of organisational skills and my immaculate ability to push tasks to the next day is a recipe for disaster. I’m looking for software that can automate the process to a certain degree I.E employee makes holiday request via the software and I can approve it, record it and calculate any balance with a simple click of a button. Might seem overkill for only having two employees but I maintain that one of the best things you can buy in life is convenience.

I’ve avoided an outsourcing company because I’ve only ever experienced/heard terrible things; crap service, long contracts etc.

There are a couple of suggestions that look good; will dig deeper.

Pretty much exactly how I expected it go; I know it isn’t fair but was hoping someone would tell me tales (pun absolutely intended) of how easy it is to wander on to a plane with your furry best mate (paperwork permitting).

The contract isn’t something I’ll be turning down so I guess the wife has the option to come along or stay home and dogsit.

One vote for the Jetboil Flash, used to carry heavier stoves then went to a pocket rocket and then to this. Wouldn’t go back, especially if only being used to heat water.

Some clarity that I avoided because my original post became a little rambly.

No attempt to avoid SDLT; as someone else has pointed out, company’s pay the 3% surcharge in any event. Although if there is a relief that I am not aware of, I would use it.

It will be purchased day 1 as a reno project but not a quick turnaround as we’re busy with our current project. The renovation won’t start for 48 months. There will be no mortgage by the time wrecking balls and/or paint brushes start swinging. It’s just a short window of opportunity that I will need to utilise borrowing as cash is otherwise tied up in my current project. So some of you are quite right, I can’t afford it right now.

What it is about however, is the tax treatment of costs, profits and mortgage interest that I want to deal with in an efficient manner.

Just as an addendum to my post. The severing of a joint tenancy is very common in later years estate planning to limit inheritance tax liability. So, just because they hold it as joint tenants now (if indeed, they do), does not mean that it is set in stone.

IAAL

Depends how they hold the property. If they hold it as joint tenants then it will automatically pass to the survivor on death OUTSIDE of the estate. Will means dick.

If they hold as tenants in common then his share passes into his estate to be distributed along with the rest of his worldly possessions.

You can tell from the register (£3 from the Land Registry) whether or not it is tenants in common by seeing if a Form A restriction (google it) is present in the proprietorship register (section B of the title register). If yes, then tenants in common.

Thanks,

House was built in ’59, so ill just scrub and rinse first and then maybe pressure wash anything stubborn.

Although probably won’t bother with a DOFF machine for the external brick, I’ve got another job that it would be perfect for and I didn’t know such a machine existed; probably saved me a huge chunk of money in other remediation methods. Much appreciated.

Thanks all,

Will have a sift through recommendations.

The consultancy stuff is two pronged; I’ll be taking on part time Locum contracts and still servicing existing relationships from within a fee-share consultancy structure. The software is required for the latter. Windows Pro is, apparently, a software requirement. This software does not run on a MAC OS either.

If I got a laptop with a home version, I would have had to take into account the licence fee to ‘upgrade’

@oldtennisshoes at the minute, out IT guys act as the middleman between us and Dell support. We can cut them out. Alternatively, we pay for their time for other problems so, in theory, whether or not we bought the hardware through them is irrelevant.

@fb-atb Haven’t actually bought anything from Currys. Last two I’ve bought from Scan Computers. I just wasn’t sure whether that would be recognisable to the reader. Definitely nice to have a single source for the hardware, like a business manager from Apple as per Johndoh’s post, which is what I had in mind.

Not meaning to jump on the ‘get a solicitor’ bandwagon but have you considered your/your wife’s capacity to sell a flat that doesn’t ‘belong’ to you (your wife may be the beneficiary of the estate of which the property is part, but that does not give her the right to deal with the legal estate)?

Have you gained a grant of probate, considered the appropriate contract provisions and more importantly, the provisions to be inserted into the transfer to pass the said legal title? Perhaps the appointment of a second trustee to overreach any other equitable interests? The Land Registry are very particular about such things and you may find yourself accidentally in breach of whatever contract you download from the internets.

If you want any specific advice, feel free to inbox

Can anyone help?

I’ve just downloaded the game for PC via the Oculus store. When I try to start the game I can only get as far as the black screen that tells me to remove my headset and register.

So I did.

Now I get to that screen, login, link my account and nothing happens. Just the same process again.

Did anyone else have to deal with this? I’m not a PC person so definitely getting a little aggy with it. Should have just bought a PlayStation.

Cheers

Afternoon all,

Thanks for your tips!

MY OS Map collection has dictated where we’re off as I happen to have the right map(s) for Grasmere/Keswick/Wasdale

I’ve ended up having to go into work so tomorrow is now the intended day of departure. Early arrival at Grasmere, make our way to Helvellyn, Thrilmere, Keswick, Dale Head, perhaps Wasdale Head (without summitting Great Gable or Scafell – we like the pub there) then back to Grasmere.

Camping spots likely to be somewhere around the north end of Thirlmere, Dale Head Tarn and Angle Tarn.

Drive to start point anywhere in the Lakes, provided there is somewhere to dump the car for a few days (paid for or otherwise). Happy to drive part and public transport part but prefer not to public transport the whole way from Manchester.

WHW was circa 20 miles per day but less elevation gain than we’d likely end up doing in the lakes. Like I said, 20 miles is max I could manage. Happy to do half that. I’m just not familiar enough with the lakes so thought this might be a good place to start.

I’m not sure why your friend would not want to protect his cash? Just do it properly; refinance the remaining mortgage balance onto a joint mortgage and pay her for half the equity. Alternatively, pay off the mortgage with his lump sum (if sufficient) and then transfer the property from her to him and her officially without lender restrictions.

Consider a formal trust deed as opposed to a scrap of paper if they absolutely want to do it. She holds on trust for the pair of them. This will likely breach the conditions of her mortgage though.

Don’t forget to consider stamp duty in either scenario.

I think we both agree, there are good and bad. Certainly not by any stretch are solicitors the cause of most issues with the process of buying/selling houses. They may have been in your case; I don’t dispute that.

Unfortunately though, the conveyancing sector (likely because of increased competition driving down costs and a resultant increase in volume of work per fee earner) is not very well paid (of course, there are exceptions) so you are unlikely to strike gold when looking for a solicitor.

Just to clarify, I didn’t call agents scum, I simply pointed out the hypocrisy of your post in nothing other than a jovial fashion. You took exception with me being a smart arse and I played up to it in my second post.

not really, I didn’t call any one ‘scum’ also not sweeping or inaccurate as I said ‘most’ not all. But 10 smart arse points awarded. Well done!

I take it you aren’t a solicitor, so you are not in a position to decide whether or not your statement is offensive. I can imagine it would be. Offensive; check.

Your statement is not incapable of being accurate just because you were woolly with the amount of problems you claim are caused by solicitors; therefore if less than half of the problems “through the whole house buying/selling process” are caused by solicitors then it isn’t most, is it? Lets pretend that your statement couldn’t be extended to removals, estate agents etc just to give you the benefit of the doubt. Inaccurate; check.

Sweeping. You said that “[solicitors] are the cause of most issues…” not most/some/my solicitors are the cause of most/some/my issues. That certainly seems a little wide in range. Sweeping; check.

I fully expect that your bitterness stems almost entirely from having a bad experience whilst buying a house which likely was due to 1) picking the cheapest person to do the job and/or 2) attributing blame to your solicitor (chances are, conveyancer – see 1) for being the messenger only in respect of an issue that already existed. General statement inferred from specific cases. Generalisation; check.

And it was there.

That’s proper smart arsery. I deserve far more than 10 points.

massively offensive inaccurate sweeping generalisation there! Pointing to solicitors to sort shows you have little understanding, given they are the cause of most issues through the whole house selling/buying process.

Massively offensive inaccurate sweeping generalisation there…

I’m 6’5/196cm so probably somewhere between moderate and proper tall; reason I’ve been looking for 230/240 internal length is to allow a certain amount of give for the sides of the tent to taper in. My current 2 man tent used for car camping (Dyfi and what not) is 210cm and is just too short.

Hi,

I can give a couple of recommendations for decent solicitors if you are still looking.

I’m a real estate finance solicitor specialising in secondary lending so deal a lot with wealthy entities that fund said lenders. Can put you in touch with the solicitors who deal with their tax structuring/trusts/estate planning if you’d like.

not much but I’ve picked up a card for Mothers Day

Ah, Salisbury might be a good shout.

There’s a famous cathedral there, the Salisbury cathedral. It’s famous not just in all of Europe, it’s famous all over the world I think. It’s famous for its 123-metre spire, its famous for its clock, the first clock made in the world that still runs.

Thanks all for the heads up, I’m a little disappointed in myself for assuming that everywhere within an hour of London had been sufficiently gentrified. We’ve now adjusted plans to see friends in London after the tour.

@beaker – will report back on the tour.

by ‘eck, I fort everywhere wer posh darn sowf.

Plan B it is.

There is unlikely to be chapter and verse in the sense that I think you’re expecting (statute).

Damage to your property is likely to fall under common law private nuisance. The overhang is a trespass which you can remedy by lopping the branches but the trimmings need to be returned to your neighbour as they are their property.

Not forgetting that you should check if the tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order in which case you’ll need your LPA’s permission for any works to the tree.

Have stayed at the Titanic Chaussee and would recommend. With the exception of the bar which is quite expensive but there are plenty of places to eat/drink and public transport is accessible.

https://www.titanic.com.tr/titanicchausseeberlin/default-en.html

I’m be betting a yearly rentcharge amount that the the solicitor gets half the premium payable…and if then can sell a few a month or pays for the lease on the Jag….

This is toss. The only things I’ve ever had from an indemnity insurer is a stress ball in the shape of a lorry (from an insurer I did a lot of business with) and one lunch (from an insurer I have never done business with).

The problem with rent charges are that there are statutory ‘reliefs’ available to the rent charge owner; meaning that if the rent charge is outstanding for more than 40 days then the rent charge owner can take possession of the property (the person who is liable to pay can stop this action by paying the outstanding sum). Most lenders have set circumstances where they will lend which in most cases is the presence (in the original conveyance) of a mortgagee notice clause (the rent charge owner must put the lender on notice before they take action for possession so that the lender choose to pay the rent charge and protect their security) or an exclusion of the rent charge owner protections (excluding the statutory reliefs above) which will be an exclusion of section 121 Law of Property Act 1925 if you want to have a read through your conveyance.

It’s an outdated concept but a genuine (if not remote) risk to a lender.

OP – do you know who the buyer’s lender is?

May be worth checking the CML Handbook for the lender’s requirements against the conveyance that implemented the rentcharge. Could be a case of a conveyancing factory (or two) not fully understanding the concept.

Don’t forget that if you need planning (for decking) then you’ll need building regs

OP – If you have electronic copies of your title/deeds referred to, I can have a look for you. PM for email address.

If the deeds aren’t silent on the issue then you would usually have either a party wall declaration (usually in the root conveyance) or a ‘T’ marked on the side of the boundary with the responsibility for the boundary feature

Thanks all.

To add a little clarity; the offer has come about because someone I have just taken on has specifically asked for any bonus to be spread over X months and cited tax/student loan benefits. I passed this on to higher-ups; they’re not bothered and have offered it to me also; if I want it.

I haven’t entertained it long enough to negotiate the circumstances in which the balance would become payable.

I’ve sight of the important stuff and no cash flow issues are obvious etc…

I’ve used it when selling but only ended up with silly offers.

a few particularly stupid offers were countered with a massively inflated price (Item for sale £200, offered £50; countered with £1k). The responses I got to those counters were enough to cement that the people weren’t chancers, they were morons.

To clarify, becomes payable 2 months into FY for the previous FY. Up to 10 months takes us to immediately prior to the next FY. so entire bonus paid within one FY whether it is paid in one lump sum or installments.

Thanks all.

I have cycle-commuted from the Little Lever end of Bolton (only for a period of 24 months circa 4 years ago) via the canal paths and the national cycle route into Salford (Old Pint Pot) and from there into the city centre. I wanted to avoid the grim parts of town but I’m quickly realising they may be unavoidable.

I may drive a route to Hollingworth lake and see if that avoids the undesirables.

which was Nice.

Bourbon-tish!

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed that.

For all those watching at home, she said yes.

Thanks all for your tips and suggestions.

We stayed at the Metropole Suisse (thanks Lister) in Como and the question was popped at Villa Balbianello who kindly opened just for us for a couple of hours on a day they were supposed to be closed (in exchange for the crossing of their palm with silver, naturally).

My girlfriend (wife-to-be I suppose) was delighted with the whole affair and I just wanted to pop back and say thanks to everyone above.

Afternoon,

Responses were generally what I expected but It’s made me realise that maybe the question wasn’t worth asking as 1) it didn’t provide enough context and 2) I shouldn’t be looking at it as a straight forward car purchase as it isn’t.

To add a little context, I am a ‘car guy’ so this is the realisation of a life-long ambition to own. I already have (may or may not be keeping) my standard-issue, diesel, German car which set me back circa 10% of gross; the car will not be sat outside a modest house (it won’t be sat outside of any house, we are city centre dwellers) and will be driven once a week at most (I walk to work). I will not be cracking open the house deposit piggy bank or taking food from the mouths of my yet-to-be-conceived children.

You sound in a similar position to the wife and I.

We were considering buying in the city centre and still might, but almost certainly not a new build. I still think there is room in the market for a established development to increase in value over the next 2-3 years but when you add on a new-build premium that is almost always instantly lost on completion (especially as there is no shortage of new builds) then you just end up being further away from the tipping point of an increase in value and I’m not sure there is room in the market to recover it.

However, as has previously been said, there is a lot of far eastern money being ‘parked’ here and it is normal for that money to stay for long periods of time (sometimes generations). Accordingly, the likelihood of a lot of these new builds actually making it to the occupier’s market is slim which might restrict supply and increase demand (read: price).

Too risky for us. Chances are we’ll continue renting, skip a step and buy in Wilmslow when we give up on life.