Detached Victorian renovation, London.
Discussion
ali_kat said:
Delighted for you my dear 
I'll have a bottle of champers tonight to celebrate for you
(cause I need an excuse 
)
I hot you're going to let the foxes stay, they're very good at keeping vermin away & save you throwing away leftovers
I don't really mind foxes at all (loads around here in London), so as long as they don't mind us clearing the garden, we don't mind them living there! Would be different if we had a small pet who used the garden, but we don't, so no problem.I'll have a bottle of champers tonight to celebrate for you
(cause I need an excuse )I hot you're going to let the foxes stay, they're very good at keeping vermin away & save you throwing away leftovers
Saw the foxcubs on our last visit. Very cute...
Harry Flashman said:
ali_kat said:
I hot you're going to let the foxes stay, they're very good at keeping vermin away & save you throwing away leftovers
I don't really mind foxes at all (loads around here in London), so as long as they don't mind us clearing the garden, we don't mind them living there! Would be different if we had a small pet who used the garden, but we don't, so no problem.Saw the foxcubs on our last visit. Very cute...
Ref the foxes, I'd really caution against tolerating them. Not only are they vermin themselves, they stink and have the potential to be dangerous. Furthermore, I'd not be happy about working clearing the garden in the presence of foxes with young, and I don't suppose contractors would be either. Far better to humanely and quickly get rid of them; it's not like we're short of the bloody things or that they're endangered.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Ref the foxes, I'd really caution against tolerating them. Not only are they vermin themselves, they stink and have the potential to be dangerous. Furthermore, I'd not be happy about working clearing the garden in the presence of foxes with young, and I don't suppose contractors would be either. Far better to humanely and quickly get rid of them; it's not like we're short of the bloody things or that they're endangered.
Harry's thread really isn't the place for a fox debate, so I'll just correct you on a couple of points... They are not vermin. They do smell (well their s
t does), but so does the Queen's; however they are not dangerous (don't believe the crap in the Daily Mail!). Foxes (and their young) will keep well away during the day when the garden is being cleared. If they start to cause an issue, Harry could chose to deal with them, but other than a bit of noise in Feb/March he's unlikely to consider them a nuisance.ali_kat said:
Harry's thread really isn't the place for a fox debate, so I'll just correct you on a couple of points... They are not vermin...
You're absolutely right, this isn't the place, so this will be my last post on the matter. But, you're not 'correcting', you're expressing an opinion. They are vermin, they stink, and they can be dangerous. They are not suitable to keep as pseudo-pets in an urban garden. We're not short of foxes. They should be removed asap. ali_kat said:
In the UK, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) determines which animals are vermin, and foxes are not on that list.
That's factually wrong and can be checked in about 1 minute on the internet. The latest list i have to hand is the Feb 2015 DEFRA list of every pest referenced by DEFRA
Canes Vulpes is number 22296 on that list
the British Pest Control Association references Foxes here: https://bpca.org.uk/pest-advice/a-z-of-pests/13436...
Apologies for saying anything Harry, and these will be my last words about foxes in your thread. Sorry it's been derailed!
Pugwash, the specialist Fox control website (where I got that info from) says different - http://fox-a-gon.co.uk/ but I'm not going to continue discussing this.
Pugwash, the specialist Fox control website (where I got that info from) says different - http://fox-a-gon.co.uk/ but I'm not going to continue discussing this.
Harry Flashman said:
Yep - hard work starts now, and we have a definite budget we need to stick to here.
We have had a stroke of luck - our buyers have turned out to be lovely people. They want to move in on 25th September - and knowing our house will be uninhabitable for a while, offered for us to stay until then, rent free, in our old home.
Not something that happens every day, the EA told me.
Stroke of luck, or perhaps karma?We have had a stroke of luck - our buyers have turned out to be lovely people. They want to move in on 25th September - and knowing our house will be uninhabitable for a while, offered for us to stay until then, rent free, in our old home.
Not something that happens every day, the EA told me.
Very pleased for you - I enjoyed reading how you procured this fabulous home, and equally pleased to hear you've dealt with such reasonable & helpful folks. It makes all the difference.
We recently bought our first place in the U.K. After owning in various other countries. We were chain-free, buying off a fairly elderly paid of doctors. They were nothing but a pleasure to deal with, which made the whole process a very happy and memorable one. I'm glad you seem to have struck such luck, also. I'm a country snuffler at heart, but that is a truly beautiful property of it's era.
Looking forward to seeing the evolution to follow!
Thanks guys - and don't mind the fox chat at all: great to hear everyone's opinions!
Feeling fragile as celebrated in the house with mates, beer and pizza until 5am...
I am completely in love with the place: it is honestly beautiful. Quite a few issues to sort though - including half an inch of water in the cellar...apparently it has had this regularly for as long as Folk s can remember (had a long chat with our new neighbours - who have lived next door for 23 years and knew two sets of owners in that time). No damp issues anywhere else.
It is the sibling of a very similar house next door. They were apparently built by the Chairman of the Prudential Assurance Company in 1896, for his two daughters. He owned the enormous house opposite (10,000 square feet), which is now flats. Most of our street was their garden/grounds in those days. Fascinating stuff. It even has a name - Hayward House: we found out from the plans.
Feeling fragile as celebrated in the house with mates, beer and pizza until 5am...
I am completely in love with the place: it is honestly beautiful. Quite a few issues to sort though - including half an inch of water in the cellar...apparently it has had this regularly for as long as Folk s can remember (had a long chat with our new neighbours - who have lived next door for 23 years and knew two sets of owners in that time). No damp issues anywhere else.
It is the sibling of a very similar house next door. They were apparently built by the Chairman of the Prudential Assurance Company in 1896, for his two daughters. He owned the enormous house opposite (10,000 square feet), which is now flats. Most of our street was their garden/grounds in those days. Fascinating stuff. It even has a name - Hayward House: we found out from the plans.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Sunday 3rd September 15:03
Harry Flashman said:
Right, been doing some VAT reading.
I have some work to do with the contractor, to get this 5% VAT rate, both on their qualifying services and on the building materials.. Probably most importantly, I need to get them to supply everything so that "building materials" can also be 5% rated. As this includes kitchen and bathroom components, we could be looking at quite a saving. Normally I supply everything myself, meaning I pay 20% VAT.
This will basically mean them ordering everything through the business. There is no financial incentive for them to do this, and as London is a market where good contractors are rare and sought after, no incentive for to take more risk than they have to. Yet there is a risk to them, as responsibility for getting VAT right is on them, not me.
I think I will tell them that I will pass a percentage saving on the VAT back t them by way of a bonus for finishing on time/to standard. This should be worth a day's work sitting with me and on the internet, ordering everything I need through their business account?
On the kitchen alone 5% will save me thousands.
Anyone have a good VAT consultant I can pay to get an opinion, to work on the contractor?
If you can get away with 5% VAT, do not go through your builder, go direct to a kitchen company. I build bespoke furniture and reasonably often only have to charge 5% VAT direct to the customer, I have some work to do with the contractor, to get this 5% VAT rate, both on their qualifying services and on the building materials.. Probably most importantly, I need to get them to supply everything so that "building materials" can also be 5% rated. As this includes kitchen and bathroom components, we could be looking at quite a saving. Normally I supply everything myself, meaning I pay 20% VAT.
This will basically mean them ordering everything through the business. There is no financial incentive for them to do this, and as London is a market where good contractors are rare and sought after, no incentive for to take more risk than they have to. Yet there is a risk to them, as responsibility for getting VAT right is on them, not me.
I think I will tell them that I will pass a percentage saving on the VAT back t them by way of a bonus for finishing on time/to standard. This should be worth a day's work sitting with me and on the internet, ordering everything I need through their business account?
On the kitchen alone 5% will save me thousands.
Anyone have a good VAT consultant I can pay to get an opinion, to work on the contractor?
Harry, this is fantastic. I have been watching (and commenting) in your old thread, and I adored that house, and was mystified when you said you were hopefully moving.
Seeing a few more pictures of the house, I can see why, this place looks unreal. I do not know London, but presume this has been a fair financial strain to make the move, and I wish you the best of luck.
Makes sobering reading as well looking at the plans from the prior owner, mentioning their sons name on the bedrooms etc. Just hope he is in a better and more comfortable place.
I really wish you and Lady F the best of luck in the house, I know you have had a rough year or so.
I will be watching this build with a lot of excitement. I am exceptionally envious of such a project, I am not sure how anyone can afford it in this day and age, but maybe that is the good old North/South divide for you (I am a mere Yorkshire-man).
Best of luck, keep the photos coming.
Bookmarked!
Seeing a few more pictures of the house, I can see why, this place looks unreal. I do not know London, but presume this has been a fair financial strain to make the move, and I wish you the best of luck.
Makes sobering reading as well looking at the plans from the prior owner, mentioning their sons name on the bedrooms etc. Just hope he is in a better and more comfortable place.
I really wish you and Lady F the best of luck in the house, I know you have had a rough year or so.
I will be watching this build with a lot of excitement. I am exceptionally envious of such a project, I am not sure how anyone can afford it in this day and age, but maybe that is the good old North/South divide for you (I am a mere Yorkshire-man).
Best of luck, keep the photos coming.
Bookmarked!
Hi Joe!
It turns out that they never lived in it - the house was bought to adapt for him in 2010, planning permission took a while (Permitted Development rights were not so broad then), work started in 2013 and he died in his house in Clapham without ever having lived in it. It passed to his mother, who had motor neurone disease and only lived another year. All quite sad.
I met the vendor, who was the lady's brother. Lovely man, and he let us have a load of custom cement encaustic tiles she had had made, and seemed happy that we were using them. He has asked to come over and have a look when it is finished.
The builders started yesterday. I wanted some brick exposed on some chimney breass for a slightly rough look in a couple of the rooms. That has worked - the original fireplaces are in a bit of a state! But it looks really cool in a distressed way (had a similar look in my flat), so we are keeping them as are.
Also had a great treat - under some old plaster over the hearth on the kitchen floor, I found that the hearth is made from original, bottle green, Victorian tiles. Which will go brilliantly with the dark green kitchen I am putting in.
Will take some pics later. Place looks a mess now with 8 blokes in it removing stud walls and plasterwork...
Also, it was wet yesterday - I have never seen more slugs outside a house, ever. That wild garden with abundant fruit is clearly a bonanza for them. Need to chop things back and deal with the infestation.
As to how we afforded it - it is true, it was an expensive purchase, and I fully appreciate that we will be living in a house that many cannot. I feel very grateful to have it - but it certainly wasn't a debt-free purchase!!
It turns out that they never lived in it - the house was bought to adapt for him in 2010, planning permission took a while (Permitted Development rights were not so broad then), work started in 2013 and he died in his house in Clapham without ever having lived in it. It passed to his mother, who had motor neurone disease and only lived another year. All quite sad.
I met the vendor, who was the lady's brother. Lovely man, and he let us have a load of custom cement encaustic tiles she had had made, and seemed happy that we were using them. He has asked to come over and have a look when it is finished.
The builders started yesterday. I wanted some brick exposed on some chimney breass for a slightly rough look in a couple of the rooms. That has worked - the original fireplaces are in a bit of a state! But it looks really cool in a distressed way (had a similar look in my flat), so we are keeping them as are.
Also had a great treat - under some old plaster over the hearth on the kitchen floor, I found that the hearth is made from original, bottle green, Victorian tiles. Which will go brilliantly with the dark green kitchen I am putting in.
Will take some pics later. Place looks a mess now with 8 blokes in it removing stud walls and plasterwork...
Also, it was wet yesterday - I have never seen more slugs outside a house, ever. That wild garden with abundant fruit is clearly a bonanza for them. Need to chop things back and deal with the infestation.
As to how we afforded it - it is true, it was an expensive purchase, and I fully appreciate that we will be living in a house that many cannot. I feel very grateful to have it - but it certainly wasn't a debt-free purchase!!
So day 2. Stripping some chimney breasts to expose the yellow London brick. We had thought to put big formal fireplaces in, but the house is quite grand and could look a bit overly so. As we are keeping the wood floors we thought we would celebrate the brick too - distressed surroundings in which to house the wood-burning stoves.
Also the guys are insulating the floors for sound and heat as best we can. Needs to be breathable, but every little helps when you have suspended wood floors and bare, restored wood as your actual floor. Noise and cold like to travel...
Living room
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Dining area of kitchen
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Carer's bathroom/kitchen opened up to make a decent sized family bathroom - just removal of a stud wall. I do need to find my camera and wide angle lens, as the iphone doesn't really do wide angle...
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Also the guys are insulating the floors for sound and heat as best we can. Needs to be breathable, but every little helps when you have suspended wood floors and bare, restored wood as your actual floor. Noise and cold like to travel...
Living room
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrDining area of kitchen
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrCarer's bathroom/kitchen opened up to make a decent sized family bathroom - just removal of a stud wall. I do need to find my camera and wide angle lens, as the iphone doesn't really do wide angle...
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 5th September 22:01
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