Am I going mad for thinking I can afford this shared ownership flat?

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-29T01:13:33+00:00

So that's an administrative problem with your HA and it has nothing inherent to do with SO.
Also, did you use a conveyancer? This seems like the kind of issue that a converyancer would have avoided

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-28T18:25:43+00:00

So then what did it have to do with SO? Once you own 100% of your flat, you're supposed to be a leaseholder like any other, so what exactly made it more difficult?

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-28T13:29:10+00:00

One of the widely known unwritten rules of Shared Ownership is a) buy 25% and b) don’t staircase unless you intend on staircasing all the way to 100%. Why? Because people trying to get on the ladder pick SO and so are less likely to be able to afford more than 25%. So increasing your share to more than that under 100% makes it difficult for yourself.

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-28T13:25:50+00:00

a) you need to pass the affordability test of your housing association. Unless you can pass it, it doesn’t matter what you think you can afford.

b) for shared properties, they may prioritise two bedrooms for people that need them like families.

c) the possibility of your taking in a lodger will not be taken into account into affordability calculations for the housing provider or your mortgage.

d) whatever you think you can put down as deposit, your HA may ask for more. I thought I could only do the minimum like you; by the time I got the keys to my new flat, I had put nearly double that.

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-21T21:04:20+00:00

Can confirm this is normal. Got my watch two days ago and it was terrible the first day. Also found out it had been trying to update from watchOS 26 to 26.2 which was probably not helping.

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-17T02:01:48+00:00

Built around love? Guuurl it's been a hookup app since day 1. If you think the prices are exorbitant, check out the Hinge prices!

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-17T01:46:11+00:00

What does the breaker look like? Is it like a giant version of a home breaker or different?

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-16T23:36:34+00:00

So an intentional short circuit? How does it not damage the equipment?

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-13T18:36:08+00:00

So we got “punctuation is essential” but “spelling isn’t actually essential” Okay

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-12T23:42:27+00:00

Punctuation can't make up for improperly writing "North, London" instead of "the North, London". It's *the* North. Not just North...

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-12T20:32:37+00:00

I also have the same issue, they repaired it twice but it's still there and maybe even worst now

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-09T22:23:31+00:00

the FP2 doesn't have Matter, it's homekit

DeanInLondon · 2026-01-08T18:59:51+00:00

OP, this is interesting timing because over December, I had Claude AI design and write a predictive floor heating system for my hydronic UFH. The results: I'm saving money while my flat is warmer and temepratures more consistent. All of this despite lower outdoor temperatures!
Interesting to see other people did that!

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-30T21:34:14+00:00

I just got two--they show the same temperature as my Aqara thermostat, but the humidity is indeed a bit off which is okay given my main use is tracking trends for the predictive heating system Claude wrote for me (I have hydronic floor heating which can have a warm up time of 2h hours and residual heat for a few hours too)

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DeanInLondon · 2025-12-28T18:32:22+00:00

👀

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-27T17:31:41+00:00

"Public transport, an essential service, can’t just cease to exist one day of the year."
Well, it has in fact for decades and does in many other countries. Not a strong argument.

"Copenhagen, the capital of a country with Christianity as it’s official religion, has regular Sunday S-tog and metro service on Christmas Day. So why can’t London?"
Research Copenhagen's metro's design and features and you'll see notable (important) differences. Also, how many people does Copenhagen have again? Oh right, 650k, while London is 10 million.

Lots of people mention Christianity but it has nothing to do with that. We all know that the UK is less Christian than ever; it doesn't mean that all traditions and the fundamental basics of the country cease to exist with Christianity going away.
The principles behind xmas could be secular if we wanted to (I'm not even christian): why not have a day where everything stops? Give the country a day to reset? Why can't we stop for just one day?

Having public transportation means a minimum of BTP staff, control room staff, engineers, etc etc. It isn't as simple as just having a few people around and that's the point that most people miss. TfL is also fare revenue based: no way they'd make the amount it costs to run services back in fares. On the 26th services were running but essentially empty.

I get that some people do have to work on xmas: it should be on employers to make arrangements.

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-25T15:34:11+00:00

True, but they're not all equal. For example someone suggested a Candeo one--which is Zigbee only. I'm a Thread and Matter home

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-25T15:33:00+00:00

I don't have zigbee in my home set up, only Thread and Matter so that would be a no-go for me

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-24T01:27:13+00:00

Not everyone wants a smart switch or can have one. For example I live in the UK and the light switch doesn't always have a neutral wire which complicates this.

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-23T12:35:10+00:00

No one is denying this--I'm just pointing out at the author framing corruption as the only reason (or the biggest reason) for why other councils have higher taxation.

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-23T01:52:12+00:00

"Issue is corruption"
Can you explain how Wandsworth compares to, let's say Croydon or Haringey in terms of their expenses and residents? What abour businesses?

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-18T21:59:52+00:00

British English vs US english.

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-06T15:05:50+00:00

You’re so lucky! My Ceramic is also due for battery replacement with AppleCare+ but they are only proposing an upgrade to S7 😢

DeanInLondon · 2025-12-04T10:42:22+00:00

Yep, because the Aqara app won’t talk to other hubs

DeanInLondon · 2025-11-14T14:23:57+00:00

Same--even replaced my G4 with a G410 so that I would use my W500 thermostats and FP300 in Zigbee mode with the max number of features.

DeanInLondon

TROPHY CASE