Informal Planning Advice prior to Complaint?
Discussion
youngsyr said:
Good spot, I hadn't seen that! Bit off on the Estate Agent's though - it's not the potential buyer's responsibility to ask for material information, it's the EA's responsibility to tell the potential buyers.
Open day update: Clothes horse still on deck, lawn not mowed and hose in garden as of 10.30am. Could be viewings are later I guess, but the weather is nice so I would have expected people to have started trickling in by now?
The market is on it's arse - open days aren't really happening in SE London now (not of the sort we've seen before anyway).... I bought and sold a mile or so from you in May and both were a slog. I wouldnt want to be a 'property developer' in this market - the sort who paint everything grey and put up horrendous decking anyway.Open day update: Clothes horse still on deck, lawn not mowed and hose in garden as of 10.30am. Could be viewings are later I guess, but the weather is nice so I would have expected people to have started trickling in by now?
Maxf said:
youngsyr said:
Good spot, I hadn't seen that! Bit off on the Estate Agent's though - it's not the potential buyer's responsibility to ask for material information, it's the EA's responsibility to tell the potential buyers.
Open day update: Clothes horse still on deck, lawn not mowed and hose in garden as of 10.30am. Could be viewings are later I guess, but the weather is nice so I would have expected people to have started trickling in by now?
The market is on it's arse - open days aren't really happening in SE London now (not of the sort we've seen before anyway).... I bought and sold a mile or so from you in May and both were a slog. I wouldnt want to be a 'property developer' in this market - the sort who paint everything grey and put up horrendous decking anyway.Open day update: Clothes horse still on deck, lawn not mowed and hose in garden as of 10.30am. Could be viewings are later I guess, but the weather is nice so I would have expected people to have started trickling in by now?
Yep, depends where you are of course, but generally the housing market is really slowing up at the moment in quite a number of areas in the SE.
Here in Cambridge the housebuilders I've been talking to are all now looking at targetting the £600k market so that they guarantee throughput of sales. I know that still sounds like a lot of wonga, but when they were all targetting the £800-900k market not so long ago, that's a big drop in a short period.
Here in Cambridge the housebuilders I've been talking to are all now looking at targetting the £600k market so that they guarantee throughput of sales. I know that still sounds like a lot of wonga, but when they were all targetting the £800-900k market not so long ago, that's a big drop in a short period.
StuTheGrouch said:
Anything happened in the last week?
Not really.They've avoided us and we've avoided them, helps that they're both back at work now (teachers) as the wife and I are working at home at the moment.
There's been a trickle of viewings, maybe 5 or so over the past week.
Haven't had a response to my letter yet and I specifically asked for a written undertaking in the drain cease and desist notice, so I guess it's just a waiting game.
Haven't been notified that any planning application has gone in.
Although I advocate scorched-earth in these situations, as it's the only reason dick-heads listen to, it sounds like the simplest resolution to this is to convince them that the the deck isn't adding to their house value.
They've already sunk the cost of building it, if they can see that they're not going to get more money for the house if they leave it, compared with if they remove it then they might as well remove it so they can actually sell the house.
Not sure how you get that message through to them, possibly an informal chat with the estate agent as if they agree they may well be prepared to advance the argument where you would be met with hostility.
But it seems like if they want to move, the key to unlocking the whole situation is for them to realise that removing the deck leaves them in a better position.
If you have a woodburner, you could offer to help with disposal costs by burning it for them, I'm sure that would be appreciated :-)
They've already sunk the cost of building it, if they can see that they're not going to get more money for the house if they leave it, compared with if they remove it then they might as well remove it so they can actually sell the house.
Not sure how you get that message through to them, possibly an informal chat with the estate agent as if they agree they may well be prepared to advance the argument where you would be met with hostility.
But it seems like if they want to move, the key to unlocking the whole situation is for them to realise that removing the deck leaves them in a better position.
If you have a woodburner, you could offer to help with disposal costs by burning it for them, I'm sure that would be appreciated :-)
paulrockliffe said:
Although I advocate scorched-earth in these situations, as it's the only reason dick-heads listen to, it sounds like the simplest resolution to this is to convince them that the the deck isn't adding to their house value.
They've already sunk the cost of building it, if they can see that they're not going to get more money for the house if they leave it, compared with if they remove it then they might as well remove it so they can actually sell the house.
Not sure how you get that message through to them, possibly an informal chat with the estate agent as if they agree they may well be prepared to advance the argument where you would be met with hostility.
But it seems like if they want to move, the key to unlocking the whole situation is for them to realise that removing the deck leaves them in a better position.
If you have a woodburner, you could offer to help with disposal costs by burning it for them, I'm sure that would be appreciated :-)
Unfortunately, we're not dealing with reasonable people here. If we were, it would never have got to this position. I fully expect them to drag this out for a ridiculously long time, just to try to prove that they're "right" and everyone else is being selfish, unfair, unreasonable and any other name they care to throw at them.They've already sunk the cost of building it, if they can see that they're not going to get more money for the house if they leave it, compared with if they remove it then they might as well remove it so they can actually sell the house.
Not sure how you get that message through to them, possibly an informal chat with the estate agent as if they agree they may well be prepared to advance the argument where you would be met with hostility.
But it seems like if they want to move, the key to unlocking the whole situation is for them to realise that removing the deck leaves them in a better position.
If you have a woodburner, you could offer to help with disposal costs by burning it for them, I'm sure that would be appreciated :-)
youngsyr said:
paulrockliffe said:
Although I advocate scorched-earth in these situations, as it's the only reason dick-heads listen to, it sounds like the simplest resolution to this is to convince them that the the deck isn't adding to their house value.
They've already sunk the cost of building it, if they can see that they're not going to get more money for the house if they leave it, compared with if they remove it then they might as well remove it so they can actually sell the house.
Not sure how you get that message through to them, possibly an informal chat with the estate agent as if they agree they may well be prepared to advance the argument where you would be met with hostility.
But it seems like if they want to move, the key to unlocking the whole situation is for them to realise that removing the deck leaves them in a better position.
If you have a woodburner, you could offer to help with disposal costs by burning it for them, I'm sure that would be appreciated :-)
Unfortunately, we're not dealing with reasonable people here. If we were, it would never have got to this position. I fully expect them to drag this out for a ridiculously long time, just to try to prove that they're "right" and everyone else is being selfish, unfair, unreasonable and any other name they care to throw at them.They've already sunk the cost of building it, if they can see that they're not going to get more money for the house if they leave it, compared with if they remove it then they might as well remove it so they can actually sell the house.
Not sure how you get that message through to them, possibly an informal chat with the estate agent as if they agree they may well be prepared to advance the argument where you would be met with hostility.
But it seems like if they want to move, the key to unlocking the whole situation is for them to realise that removing the deck leaves them in a better position.
If you have a woodburner, you could offer to help with disposal costs by burning it for them, I'm sure that would be appreciated :-)
RATATTAK said:
youngsyr said:
Haven't been notified that any planning application has gone in.
Not all Authorities inform neighbours nowadays - best to check onlineyoungsyr said:
RATATTAK said:
youngsyr said:
Haven't been notified that any planning application has gone in.
Not all Authorities inform neighbours nowadays - best to check onlineI've just been dealing with a load of hassle for a neighbour that could have been dealt with far more effectively if I'd been involved earlier. I should have been notified but wasn't on the list, I'm not sure what criteria they use for identifying neighbours, but it doesn't necessarily include everyone that is materially impacted by the application. I know at least one address on that list that didn't get their letter anyway.
On top of that, my own application had it's own notification list, only around half of those received the notifications.
Fair enough, I'll keep an eye on the planning portal website.
On another note, just saw today that they've reduced their asking price from offers over £600k to £585k.
I can't see that making much difference to a buyer, but it backs up my suspicions that it's not going to fly off the market.
I suspect it's got a little way to go yet, probably £550 to £560 would be my guess.
I know they bought it for £410k and they've spent 2 years renovating every room, front and back garden. They've redone the (small) bathroom and reasonably sized kitchen and must have spent at least £20k on the front and back gardens combined (for which they told us they'd had to remortgage). So I'm wondering just how much profit they've got left in it.
On another note, just saw today that they've reduced their asking price from offers over £600k to £585k.
I can't see that making much difference to a buyer, but it backs up my suspicions that it's not going to fly off the market.
I suspect it's got a little way to go yet, probably £550 to £560 would be my guess.
I know they bought it for £410k and they've spent 2 years renovating every room, front and back garden. They've redone the (small) bathroom and reasonably sized kitchen and must have spent at least £20k on the front and back gardens combined (for which they told us they'd had to remortgage). So I'm wondering just how much profit they've got left in it.
youngsyr said:
Fair enough, I'll keep an eye on the planning portal website.
On another note, just saw today that they've reduced their asking price from offers over £600k to £585k.
I can't see that making much difference to a buyer, but it backs up my suspicions that it's not going to fly off the market.
I suspect it's got a little way to go yet, probably £550 to £560 would be my guess.
I know they bought it for £410k and they've spent 2 years renovating every room, front and back garden. They've redone the (small) bathroom and reasonably sized kitchen and must have spent at least £20k on the front and back gardens combined (for which they told us they'd had to remortgage). So I'm wondering just how much profit they've got left in it.
Fingers crossed its just enough to pay for the removal of that eyesore of a 'deck' (stage) they erected On another note, just saw today that they've reduced their asking price from offers over £600k to £585k.
I can't see that making much difference to a buyer, but it backs up my suspicions that it's not going to fly off the market.
I suspect it's got a little way to go yet, probably £550 to £560 would be my guess.
I know they bought it for £410k and they've spent 2 years renovating every room, front and back garden. They've redone the (small) bathroom and reasonably sized kitchen and must have spent at least £20k on the front and back gardens combined (for which they told us they'd had to remortgage). So I'm wondering just how much profit they've got left in it.
What a nightmare, how they could have thought that was ok is beyond me.
I imagine that before anyone looks at a house these days, they look on Zoopla to see what it last sold for. I know we did when we bought 5.5yrs ago. I would certainly question what would have been done in two years to warrant such a sizeable uplift in price.
2 doors down from us sold recently for £5k short of DOUBLE what we paid for ours 5.5yrs ago, admittedly theirs was nicer inside and they had spent quite a lot on it, but £215k more!!
One of my neighbours is rubbing his hands with glee, perhaps forgetting that he would have to buy another house, that will most likely have also gone up in price significantly.
I imagine that before anyone looks at a house these days, they look on Zoopla to see what it last sold for. I know we did when we bought 5.5yrs ago. I would certainly question what would have been done in two years to warrant such a sizeable uplift in price.
2 doors down from us sold recently for £5k short of DOUBLE what we paid for ours 5.5yrs ago, admittedly theirs was nicer inside and they had spent quite a lot on it, but £215k more!!
One of my neighbours is rubbing his hands with glee, perhaps forgetting that he would have to buy another house, that will most likely have also gone up in price significantly.
The Dictator said:
What a nightmare, how they could have thought that was ok is beyond me.
I imagine that before anyone looks at a house these days, they look on Zoopla to see what it last sold for. I know we did when we bought 5.5yrs ago. I would certainly question what would have been done in two years to warrant such a sizeable uplift in price.
2 doors down from us sold recently for £5k short of DOUBLE what we paid for ours 5.5yrs ago, admittedly theirs was nicer inside and they had spent quite a lot on it, but £215k more!!
One of my neighbours is rubbing his hands with glee, perhaps forgetting that he would have to buy another house, that will most likely have also gone up in price significantly.
You have to do anything to the house to get a higher price. In the right market conditions all you have to do is own it.I imagine that before anyone looks at a house these days, they look on Zoopla to see what it last sold for. I know we did when we bought 5.5yrs ago. I would certainly question what would have been done in two years to warrant such a sizeable uplift in price.
2 doors down from us sold recently for £5k short of DOUBLE what we paid for ours 5.5yrs ago, admittedly theirs was nicer inside and they had spent quite a lot on it, but £215k more!!
One of my neighbours is rubbing his hands with glee, perhaps forgetting that he would have to buy another house, that will most likely have also gone up in price significantly.
blueg33 said:
The Dictator said:
What a nightmare, how they could have thought that was ok is beyond me.
I imagine that before anyone looks at a house these days, they look on Zoopla to see what it last sold for. I know we did when we bought 5.5yrs ago. I would certainly question what would have been done in two years to warrant such a sizeable uplift in price.
2 doors down from us sold recently for £5k short of DOUBLE what we paid for ours 5.5yrs ago, admittedly theirs was nicer inside and they had spent quite a lot on it, but £215k more!!
One of my neighbours is rubbing his hands with glee, perhaps forgetting that he would have to buy another house, that will most likely have also gone up in price significantly.
You have to do anything to the house to get a higher price. In the right market conditions all you have to do is own it.I imagine that before anyone looks at a house these days, they look on Zoopla to see what it last sold for. I know we did when we bought 5.5yrs ago. I would certainly question what would have been done in two years to warrant such a sizeable uplift in price.
2 doors down from us sold recently for £5k short of DOUBLE what we paid for ours 5.5yrs ago, admittedly theirs was nicer inside and they had spent quite a lot on it, but £215k more!!
One of my neighbours is rubbing his hands with glee, perhaps forgetting that he would have to buy another house, that will most likely have also gone up in price significantly.
There was a spate of live-in developers buying on our road about 2 years ago, but then again our road was prime for it. Cross Rail was confirmed to stop at the local station, significantly improving links into London and there were a lot of families who'd owned their houses for decades without spending much on them and who were about to become empty nesters. Prices went up by c.17% if you believe the press the year before our neighbours bought.
We were probably at the forefront of the wave of younger commuters moving onto the road when we bought in 2010 and have seen the value of our place nearly double over that time. However, the developers who bought in 2 years ago haven't seen much increase in price as lots of new builds have been built at the same time in our area and the value increase from Cross Rail was factored into their purchase.
To be fair, next door have completely renovated the house and its gardens, so you'd expect quite a big uplift, I'd say to around £550k, but there won't be much profit left in it for them after transaction costs, materials and the third party labour they've had to buy in.
Minor update:
Woke up this morning to two of next door's outdoor sofa cushions halfway across our garden and next door's garden furniture which has been in pride of place on their viewing platform, sitting on their lawn. No sign of the flower pot border they'd put on the edge of the platform nearest the border either.
Quick check of the CCTV handily aimed down the garden shows clearly that at 6.52am, a gust of wind caught the plant pots, sofa and sofa cushions and flung the cushions across our garden, knocked over a large plant pot so it was hanging precariously on top of the fence between our properties and shifted the entire sofa about 6"!
The neighbours then scuttled out about 5 mintues later and hastily removed all the above from the platform. Was disappointed not to see them pondering the cushions in our garden, but that must have wound them up nicely on their way to work!
After debating what to do for a short while, I took the opportunity to return the cushions to the front door whilst they were out and have a good look at the new "drain" they'd installed at the front (see separate thread here for that: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ).
Checked the weather forecast and winds were approximately 15mph with up to 25mph gusts today, so not exactly hurricane force!
To think they mocked us for complaining about the safety of their viewing platform!
Woke up this morning to two of next door's outdoor sofa cushions halfway across our garden and next door's garden furniture which has been in pride of place on their viewing platform, sitting on their lawn. No sign of the flower pot border they'd put on the edge of the platform nearest the border either.
Quick check of the CCTV handily aimed down the garden shows clearly that at 6.52am, a gust of wind caught the plant pots, sofa and sofa cushions and flung the cushions across our garden, knocked over a large plant pot so it was hanging precariously on top of the fence between our properties and shifted the entire sofa about 6"!
The neighbours then scuttled out about 5 mintues later and hastily removed all the above from the platform. Was disappointed not to see them pondering the cushions in our garden, but that must have wound them up nicely on their way to work!
After debating what to do for a short while, I took the opportunity to return the cushions to the front door whilst they were out and have a good look at the new "drain" they'd installed at the front (see separate thread here for that: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ).
Checked the weather forecast and winds were approximately 15mph with up to 25mph gusts today, so not exactly hurricane force!
To think they mocked us for complaining about the safety of their viewing platform!
Edited by youngsyr on Tuesday 18th September 18:03
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