davyK wrote:

I presume your wife/partner is entitled to a share though (have forgot all the details of this saga but I have been following it).  Pity that.

Oh yeah, it's 50/50 between the sisters.  I'm just trying to do the legwork and spare the missus the emotional turmoil of it.

davyK wrote:

LivDiv wrote:

When I sold my flat I found Strike's valuation an absolute clown show. Guide price then a tour via zoom call on my phone to make sure it existed. They've probably valued it at that as well as the alure of being cheap. In case it's not obvious I think those DIY estate agents are wank. A false economy.

This. You need a local agent. Yep estate agents are estate agents but a good local one will do a good job.

The flat situation in Glasgow is a ridic cash cow for surveyors and estate agents. Minimum effort for tons of cash. The home report on my new flat stated it was less than 100 square meters but I figured it was more than that. The upstairs neighbour with an identical flat got hers done years ago when people still gave a shit and it's just shy of 130 square meters. 

I think they just pop in, have a quick glance about and move on to the next one. I don't think the estate agents cared much either even though it was undervaluing the place.

It is. My brother just bought quite a nice terraced house in Richmond for just shy of a couple of million and he's working remotely. It's a decent solid house but nothing special.

Anyone know a DIY fix for a warping wooden floor. It's parquet, or at least parquet style (I'm not convinced it's actual hardwood), and it has started bulging up in one area. I don't think there's any leak or water as it's not in a place where there could be any and there isn't any sign of any, but the room does get very humid in the winter due to the direction the house faces and not great insulation. The flooring has risen a centimetre or two in an area about 50cm across but so far the tiles haven't separated from each other, although they are showing signs that they will. I definitely don't have the money to get someone in to replace the floor so I'm looking for a cheapish fix. Leave something heavy on it for a while? Dampen it first so it warps back into place? Set it on fire?

I actually would do that but it's in front of a door and would be kind of awkward never to be able to get into the bedroom again.

Quick maybe not, but something manageable for a klutz like me.

Is the wooden floor right up against the wall or the skirting? If there's a way to make more of an expansion gap, do it.

Also, if the room adjoins a kitchen where you're cooking with gas, keep the door closed and get an extractor fan - gas cooking makes extra moisture.

Check early that it's viable I guess.
There is the type of land your place is on to consider but I know some parts of London have had too many done now and councils have started denying permission, mainly an issue for terraces.

I'm guessing you've already built upwards as high and outwards as far as you can? There are nightmare stories about basement builds in London terraces causing subsidence - advice seems to be make sure you have an expert in basement renovation doing the work.

Time_on_my_hands wrote:

Is the wooden floor right up against the wall or the skirting? If there's a way to make more of an expansion gap, do it.

Also, if the room adjoins a kitchen where you're cooking with gas, keep the door closed and get an extractor fan - gas cooking makes extra moisture.

It's right up to the skirting board. I can't think why this particular spot would have humidity as it's just in front of the wardrobe. I can't even get replacement parquet pieces to fit so I think I'm going to bite the bullet and try to refloor the room myself with faux wood vinyl tiles. It'll probably have to wait until the summer though

Who has a wicker toilet?

Funkstain wrote:

Thanks. Yep we have a dormer loft conversion but it’s too small to split into two rooms plus shower room. We’re mid terrace so no outwards.

Have considered a granny flat at bottom of garden; have space etc but harder to get permission for

Basements are still permitted developments in Waltham Forest but guessing it’s going to be expensive. Need to figure out whether prohibitively so. Guess best thing is get a few specialist companies to take a look!

Could you extend out more on the ground floor into the garden as you've room for a granny flat? Our terrace street in SE London has a crazy variety of ground floor extensions that eat into the back garden - and half have another storey on top. There are also loads of granny flats. Possibly harder to get permission for in some boroughs because I heard lots were being illegally used as flats for let, especially in East London.

Sorry, I checked and it goes under the skirting board yeah. I think the humidity is affecting the wall by the windows mostly and causing expansion which has forced the floor up in another place, which isn't actually humid itself necessarily. The parquet is 25 years old and I think it might have had its day.

I know that this has caused a lot problems for you, so please understand this is not aimed at you, but rather them.

That's absolutely fucking hilarious, and I hope they have to reduce it again. Technically due to inflation they're already £1,700 down.

Diluted Dante wrote:

Technically due to inflation they're already £1,700 down.

Not to mention the £4k or so they've had to spend in running costs for the last 2 years (as have we).