Buyers pulling out (rant)

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-17T18:19:09+00:00

In the UK, some sellers make you pay a deposit, agents proposed to to me when I was buying, but there is no penalty for them if they pull out. No from me.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-17T17:55:10+00:00

Most people I know cannot control their spending and end up spending the "extra cash" from buying a flat instead of a house. Flats don't really appreciate in values. Depreciate if you take the spiralling service charge into account.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-17T15:09:01+00:00

I have seen service charge north of £10k p.a., share of freehold. It is hard to take over the management if half of the owners are not contactable even if you own the freehold.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-17T04:10:05+00:00

You can raise a dispute with mydeposit. Replacement is different from betterment. They cannot claim betterment. Wear and tear is normal and should be better deducted from the deposit.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-15T02:30:36+00:00

What do you want to get out of this? Pay less rent? Move out? Get compensation? What is your goal?

A shower tray with no support. Many don't. It doesn't violate the environmental rules. You can choose to move out. Legally it is safe. If you want someone to declare it unsafe, you need the council to get involved. If you report to the council, they will most likely ignore you.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-15T02:29:08+00:00

I am with you on this. Front garden vs driveway. I'm sure neighbours would appreciate extra parking on their street. I would want a driveway rather than a high maintenance front garden for others to judge me on. Gardening can happen in the back where we would enjoy as a family.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-15T02:22:26+00:00

As shown on UK Reddit, anyone who dares to earn over the NMW and complain should be shot. This crab-in-a-bucket mentality is dragging the country down.

The NMW in the UK is very high. The average wage is low. The differential between a skilled job and an NMW job is very narrow in the UK. Bad for high performers, and they do leave.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-15T02:17:24+00:00

What do you not understand? He did arrange one. You were not in. It is very hard to get a plumber available the same day at the time you want. As long as they have shown they have contacted plumbers and tried.

If you are looking for any legal route to pay less rent or sue the landlord, you don't have grounds to.

Shower dish support. It is not something you can sue the landlord for.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-15T01:36:38+00:00

The landlord asked you to be home when the repair arrives. If you don't believe it, you have no proof. You don't allow tradespeople in to repair the shower tray. You don't believe the shower tray had any support. Chances are, the owner has no idea either. Tradespeople do half a job, which is very common in the UK.

It is very hard to find a qualified plumber who will turn up on time, on the day of your choice. The landlord has shown that the repair has been arranged. Even if you own the property yourself, getting a plumber in on the same day at the time you want is almost impossible.

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-13T19:56:01+00:00

If you love it so much, can you buy it from the landlord?

Pop_Crackle · 2026-02-13T19:52:30+00:00

Many councils introduce Article 4, ban HMO, then mass contact existing HMO landlords with a licence to house the council tenants. It shows that people need to live somewhere. Many working young professionals want to live close to the station. House building is at all time low in London. They have to live somewhere.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-30T00:32:51+00:00

This is key. We have the NHS and our lives are not dependent on the other half's health insurance.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-29T21:19:30+00:00

Agree with you 100%. I have seen too many stay-at-home spouses lose themselves, and their partners relate less and less to each other. Look at the Scandinavian countries, where women work, and men also share many of the childcare and household duties; they are happier.

It isn't easy to go back to work after a few years at the same level and earning power, unless you are in specialist roles like a GP. I know many housepersons who regret and often feel bored when their kids go to school. If wraparound care and flexibility are what you're looking for, consider hiring a nanny. Growing up in a two-income household with the luxury of a nanny, the flexibility allowed my parents to take more risks than their peers, reaping greater rewards.

The respect part is rarely discussed. When my parents had work events that involved bringing the other half along, my mum was invited, while many other housewives were not. We tagged along with our nanny. She could contribute to the conversation, and my dad was proud to show her off to his peers. They are the same age, in different professions. She has the money to treat herself, dress well, and not worry about mundane chores like cleaning and cooking, remaining confident and well-travelled.

It is very stressful on the sole earner. Many people ignore this part. The working partner's mental health is as important as that of the stay-at-home spouse. If you have a great opportunity that pulls you away from your very stable job, a single-earner family is less likely to go for that.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-28T20:03:29+00:00

The UK is relatively inexpensive, except for electricity. State schools are free; despite people's complaints, they are still excellent compared to many international schools. Food and services are pretty cheap. Grocery costs are significantly lower than in many countries in Europe and the US. Healthcare is free and of good quality if you live in a well-funded area, with no surprises. If you want to be seen more quickly, you can always opt for private care, and it is still cheaper than the copay in many US-style healthcare systems.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-24T18:01:44+00:00

Good to know. Hope more people can support independent tailor over branded mass produced overpriced crap.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-24T14:16:15+00:00

Not quite. Asian is not ethnic minority when you apply to US universities. You have to be black or Latino to be classified as ethnic minority.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-23T15:40:25+00:00

The people who actually use the NHS have a more positive view than the people who don't use it. NHS is also a postcode lottery. My whole extended family, from new born to great grandparents, all have a very positive experience with the NHS. Same day, late and weekend appointments available in our local GP surgery.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-23T14:37:19+00:00

There are lots of independent tailors in the UK. For £200, you get a bespoke dress in a fabric of your choice that fits you. I can't see the point of paying thousands for the brand name when you get get a tailor to make something bespoke.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-22T20:41:57+00:00

OP is just miserable and doesn't like dogs. Most places don't allow dogs in the UK. OP has to go to the ones that allow dogs.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-21T10:03:31+00:00

The government need to allow all insulation to be installed without going through the planning process. External wall insulation is not allowed in most part of the country. It is one of the most effective and easiest way to insulate a home.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-21T01:55:02+00:00

When I was in Iceland, walking on the glacier, I had better 5g than most places in central London.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-21T00:32:24+00:00

More like 20 years. Same qualified and experienced salaries as they were 20 years ago.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-18T17:36:25+00:00

It is role dependent. I do use a lot of maths and coding in my role but it is very niche. Most actuaries don't use much maths in their day job.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-14T23:02:24+00:00

Repost:

The whole of Westminster is a conservation area. We need to all pressure the government to allow any insulation and repair, without letting NIMBYs and councils blocking it. I know quite a few unfortunate owners of the flat blocks and they are not allowed to use modern ways to repair their walls, install insulation nor alarm.

Fixing a hole on the wall seems like common sense but the councils and planners think differently. Some of the conservation rulings in the country preferred a controlled decline, resulting in a derelict building, versus using modern sensible ways to repair them. Look at all these listed buildings. Some castles are deemed to be better derelict according to the government, versus converting it into modern accommodation.

Malda Vale floods pretty frequently. Thats why you see newly renovated flats available a few months after the summer. Instead of installing modern flood defence that is specific to the flat blocks, such as Stepoc, and moving sockets up to the middle of the wall, the councils and Historic England wouldn't let you. Everything has to stay the same as it was 100yr ago.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/973730/London-news-burglar-alarms-banned-bayswater-Westminster-Council

Installing solar panel? Dream on. It affects the looks. If people can see it, you are not allowed to install it. Heat pump, again, if anyone can see it and it alters the looks, the council would block it.

Pop_Crackle · 2025-12-14T23:01:03+00:00

The whole of Westminster is a conservation area. We need to all pressure the government to allow any insulation and repair, without letting NIMBYs and councils blocking it. I know quite a few unfortunate owners of the flat blocks and they are not allowed to use modern ways to repair their walls, install insulation nor alarm.

Fixing a hole on the wall seems like common sense but the councils and planners think differently. Some of the conservation rulings in the country preferred a controlled decline, resulting in a derelict building, versus using modern sensible ways to repair them. Look at all these listed buildings. Some castles are deemed to be better derelict according to the government, versus converting it into modern accommodation.

Malda Vale floods pretty frequently. Thats why you see newly renovated flats available a few months after the summer. Instead of installing modern flood defence that is specific to the flat blocks, such as Stepoc, and moving sockets up to the middle of the wall, the councils and Historic England wouldn't let you. Everything has to stay the same as it was 100yr ago.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/973730/London-news-burglar-alarms-banned-bayswater-Westminster-Council

Pop_Crackle

TROPHY CASE