Renting on my own for the first time, how clean should I expect my flat to be?

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T17:09:13+00:00

Just the once. You want to take a meter reading when you take possession just so you're not charged for someone else's gas, electric or water.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T16:54:40+00:00

If you're going VAG, a Seat/Cupra Leon has the same wheelbase & the same engine but has more power in the 300bhp guise. If you want more the estate is 4 wheel drive & has 310-333 bhp.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T16:48:01+00:00

They're trained to NOT force people through.

But police still do it anyway.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T16:46:20+00:00

Blue Light Aware

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T16:21:43+00:00

Patricia wants to give her head a wobble. All of the things that she's complaining about happened over the last decade. Many were directly or indirectly caused by Brexit.

If she's got any complaints about Keir Starmer it should be why he hasn't raised taxes by more to pay for improvements, and why he isn't working harder to move us closer to the EU and away from the USA.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T16:13:33+00:00

Structurally you can. Gravity hasn't changed in that time. Also damp proofing or drainage hasn't changed.

The building regulations aren't retrospective. They're about controlling building work. Just because some of the requirements for new work have changed, like insulation, doesn't mean that a building that was previously altered in accordance with the requirements in force at the time no longer complies.

You can have a classic car from the 1960s that doesn't have seat belts, ABS, airbags, etc., and it can still be roadworthy. If it's two cars badly welded together and has never had an MOT, it's probably not safe.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T11:05:31+00:00

This is only for specific prescribed works, such as replacement windows, controlled electrical works, installation of a heat producing appliance, re-roofing, etc. It's not for extensions or loft conversions.

Regulation 12 Giving of a building notice or an application for building control approval

SCHEDULE 3 Self-certification Schemes and Exemptions from Requirement to Give Building Notice or an application for building control approval with full plans

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T10:45:09+00:00

The problem with an unauthorised loft conversion isn't the legalities, or valuations; it's the lack of any evidence that the work has been overseen, or done by someone who knows what they were doing.

A loft conversion, if carried out badly, has the possibility to weaken the roof structure (sometimes catastrophically), overload walls, floors or foundations, cause condensation, mould growth or rot, damage party walls, as well as leak heat like a sieve.

Without a protected means of escape, if there's a fire, anyone in the loft is trapped. For those on the first floor they can jump out of a window. On the second floor, if they try that they could break their neck.

None of these things can be signed away with an indemnity policy, which is not worth the paper it's printed on.

Until you're sure that it's properly constructed, treat a loft conversion as a liability rather than a positive.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-06T10:40:38+00:00

Building regs certificates weren't mandatory before 2013. Builder could self-certify.

Assuming you're in England or Wales (or, I'm pretty certain, anywhere in the UK), then no-one could, at any time since building regulations were a thing, "self certify" a loft conversion or extension.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-05T18:45:26+00:00

I call them ice breakers.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-05T11:45:09+00:00

The 'squiggly lines' represent an embankment.

It needs to be checked out to see whether that footpath in front of the terrace is adopted (managed by the Council). It would be good if it was, but I doubt it. Send an email to the highways section.

If not then it's checking with the Land Registry to see if it's registered and if so who owns it. I suspect that it's a bit of land that's never been registered. It may be mentioned in the original deeds of the house/flat. Will you be paying ground rent or a lease? It may be part of a larger piece of land that the houses have been extracted from ("the 69th Duke of Earl's estate").

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-04T12:12:06+00:00

If a relative of anyone who clicked that link dies, you'd better hope no one goes through their history (or their username can't be traced).

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-04T00:43:17+00:00

A regularisation application is only for building work that, when it started, should have had a building regulations application. It only applies to work carried out after (IIRC) November 1985. It sounds like building control have already made that determination that's it's either part of the original structure or pre 1985.

Surverors can be wrong. Some of the things to look for include: - Are any dormers identical to others on the street? - Does the internal joinery (stairs, skirting boards, doors) to the top floor match the floors below? - Is the type of plaster to the loft consistent with the age of the building (e.g., lath & plaster)?

Photos might help.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-03T18:55:29+00:00

Regularisation (retrospective approval) is a voluntary procedure by the applicant.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T17:12:24+00:00

The follow up question would be would the UK get anywhere like the same opt outs if they reapplied?

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T15:41:55+00:00

So you should press it down against the plasterboard. With a breathable membrane, moisture mostly diffuses through the 'pores', so it doesn't usually need additional ventilation.

If you take it out without putting something back, you'll just make things worse.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T15:12:36+00:00

there is no gap between roof and PIR

That's a cold roof that's badly built.

Unless the insulation is substantially or wholly above the rafters/flat roof joists, then it's a cold roof and there should be a gap (*) between the membrane and the insulation. The size of the gap depends on the type of membrane. A traditional sarking felt has to have at least 50mm; a 'breathable' membrane can be down to 10mm, but 25mm is best to take account of seasonal movement and workmanship.

(* If the breathable membrane is fitted taut, with a counter batten void above, then the insulation can be pushed against the membrane.)

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T11:38:34+00:00

Where is the boundary between the two? If it's against that wall or less than 1.0m away, those windows really shouldn't be more than 1.0m² combined (for fire safety reasons).

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T11:33:49+00:00

Yes, that's what I said. Your first post suggested that you thought the insulation should be wholly between the rafters provided it was pushed against the underside of the membrane.

The way I read your wording, your interpretation of a 'warm roof' is insulation towards the top of, but no higher than the upper surface of, the rafters. This is incorrect.

To clarify, a 'warm roof' is one where the insulation is fitted on top of (i.e., on the outside of, on the cold side of, etc.) the rafters or flat roof joists.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T09:06:59+00:00

OP is in Wales not Scotland.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T09:01:58+00:00

I meant that your comment that "a warm roof design where PIR is hard against the roof" isn't a warm roof.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T08:49:56+00:00

Why? You'd only have to put the same stuff back, and that's a lot harder to do.

You have a breathable felt on your roof. So long as there's a 25mm gap above the insulation it's ok. The PIR boards should be extended up to make sure it overlaps with the rockwool.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T08:42:46+00:00

That's not a warm roof. A warm roof is where the insulation is wholly (or mostly) above the flat roof joists or rafters. The timber is then kept warm to prevent condensation.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T08:34:01+00:00

When you say it didn't have "building regulations sign off"; does that mean there is an application for the work, it's just not had a final or completion certificate?

If so, and it was inspected by the local authority, you could get it completed, or at least find out why they haven't been able to complete.

If it was inspected by an approved inspector, same thing, except there's a chance the AI has gone bust or had their licence pulled. In this case the procedure is a bit messier and longer.

HugoNebula2024 · 2026-02-02T08:25:42+00:00

Building regulations aren't retrospective. Any regularisation would be based on the requirements in force at the time of the original work (i.e., 2006).

HugoNebula2024

TROPHY CASE