O/T Need Madsters Help

[CAMiller]

South Kirkby - not my preferred place but it's in a good street and close to a good school, park and shops and has annex potential for us grandparents

[Brin]

We've had an offer accepted on one with an extension (5 bedrooms) but the seller has been stalling as after the Level 2 survey discovered some things we asked for an electrical inspection and a structural survey as the chimney breast has been removed in the bedroom. Chimney still on roof and breast still downstairs but nothing in between. It's an early 70s house and as the surveyor could see no evidence of cavity wall insulation we also asked to see the utility bills (daughter currently pays close to 400 a month in her rented place). First seller said OK, then said she'd shredded them all so we asked for a rough figure and now she's saying her solicitor has advised her not to tell us as everyone's usage will vary!

Very weird behaviour. Sounds like she has something to hide.

[CAMiller]

Very weird behaviour. Sounds like she has something to hide.

I'm glad we aren't the only ones who find this a bit evasive. Her solicitor even told us to contact the utility companies ourselves and ask them to which we replied in these days of data protection we are pretty sure they won't want to give us information on their customers' bills.

[Brin]

I'm glad we aren't the only ones who find this a bit evasive. Her solicitor even told us to contact the utility companies ourselves and ask them to which we replied in these days of data protection we are pretty sure they won't want to give us information on their customers' bills.

CAM, with what you've described about the chimney breast, CB, it's that that sounds the most dangerous, the bills are the least of your worries.

CB still in the living room but no CB in the bedroom but Chimney stack and pots still on the roof, it's a disaster waiting to happen. I'm no structural surveyor/engineer but the laws of gravity don't sit well with that set up.

[Eternal Optimist]

CAM, with what you've described about the chimney breast, CB, it's that that sounds the most dangerous, the bills are the least of your worries.

CB still in the living room but no CB in the bedroom but Chimney stack and pots still on the roof, it's a disaster waiting to happen. I'm no structural surveyor/engineer but the laws of gravity don't sit well with that set up.

It depends.

We have the same arrangement in one room in our house but it's fine as the top half of the chimney breast sits on a load-bearing (brick) wall.

[CAMiller]

CAM, with what you've described about the chimney breast, CB, it's that that sounds the most dangerous, the bills are the least of your worries.

CB still in the living room but no CB in the bedroom but Chimney stack and pots still on the roof, it's a disaster waiting to happen. I'm no structural surveyor/engineer but the laws of gravity don't sit well with that set up.

Yep. The surveyor who did the Level 2 Home Survey had it top of his list of 'warnings' as he wasn't a structural expert. When we mentioned it, firstly the seller's solicitor said it was on us to get it checked further and then the seller told us it was OK as her late husband did it and he was a qualified builder We said, No, it's on you to get it checked out and verify that it's structurally safe. So far we are waiting on the results.

[CAMiller]

It depends.

We have the same arrangement in one room in our house but it's fine as the top half of the chimney breast sits on a load-bearing (brick) wall.

Yes - that might be the case, or not! It's a semi and the chimneys are on the party wall. The adjoining house was also for sale but still has the breasts in place from what we could see from the photos.

[caytonmiller]

There are some picky folks in the CAM family and it's definitely not me.

Nothing wrong with seeing your neighbours arse 🤭

[caytonmiller]

CAM should think long and hard where he places his family and rightly so. Personally, he's been looking in the wrong places so far.

Cheap and cheerful could be years of misery for his loved ones. Come on Cayton, you know some good areas for house purchasing, give him a push in the right direction.

Cams property needs for the budget spend is like finding that unicorn home. Unfortunately for the money it's a ok/rough area. To get everything in a good area he would need an extra 100k or a property that needs repair.

[caytonmiller]

Rodman street or Bramley avenue. Both are in the catchment area for a top 10 rated school in Sheffield. Both meet the size spec but not the budget. 260-270k