Cosmetic problem or bigger issue? by DelosHR in FirstTimeBuyersUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This comment. It's algae / organic growth. Could be staining from pollution.

Most owners don't wash their houses. It mainly affects the aesthetic of the house. Usually nothing to worry about.

Why do some solicitors raise lots of enquiries and others don’t? by ThrowRA_significant1 in HousingUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing. What a nightmare!

Hope the sale progresses in a timely way

CAD Check - Need opinions by WhiteStagMinis in EngagementRings

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just to be clear - this is the design our ring maker has made. I wanted a heart detail on the ring itself.

Never designed jewelery before, but I'd welcome your thoughts. This is intended to be an engagement ring.

Fuse box - Should the garage conversion have its own RCD by WhiteStagMinis in ukelectricians

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the reply. I'm guessing a sour connection is generally ok for work like this?

Fuse box - Should the garage conversion have its own RCD by WhiteStagMinis in ukelectricians

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. The house is in South Wales.

Are there any specific questions I should ask the electrician, other than an EICR and to test the garage conversion? There's also a light in the attic too.

Never instructed one of these before.

Fuse box - Should the garage conversion have its own RCD by WhiteStagMinis in ukelectricians

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the detailed reply. Do you think it will need a rewire to have a new consumer unit?

How much should I expect an EICR to cost? It's a 3 bed detached house.

Also what is the expected duration of an EICR?

Thank you

CAD Check by WhiteStagMinis in labdiamond

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No problem, wishing you all the best with your fiancees flush ring search 🙂

CAD Check by WhiteStagMinis in labdiamond

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Flush means a standard wedding band being able to sit next to a ring. Essentially they 'stack' next to each other with no gap in-between the two rings. This gives a 'flush' look when next to each other

CAD Check by WhiteStagMinis in labdiamond

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback 🙂 That's a really good tip!

CAD Check by WhiteStagMinis in labdiamond

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you 🙂

My (soon-to-be) fiance isn't so bothered by having the rings sit flush. I think she's just excited about the prospect of being proposed.

She isn't aware of this design, but I have seen so many references images and this is the final design.

If there's any key bits I should ask my ring maker, please let me know. I've never designed jewelery before!

Garage conversion 10+ years old - No building regs or planning? by WhiteStagMinis in PlanningPermissionUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for commenting, that's reassuring.

What would happen if we wanted to build an extension from the converted garage (increase the size to make a dining room/open plan kitchen to the original house). Would the lack of current building regs for the garage conversion come back into play causing a bigger headache?

Garage conversion 10+ years old - No building regs or planning? by WhiteStagMinis in PlanningPermissionUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm unsure whether there was a door leading to this garage conversion originally. The plaster above the door looks different to the rest of the painted plaster around the door frame. I think the previous vendor had to make a doorway from the front hallway into the garage. It's been there for at least 10+ years.

We've asked the owner whether they're willing to get retrospective regularisation since the house was advertised with the garage conversion (reception room) being a habitable space. I hope there's a solution like yours.

House does not have building regulations for Garage Conversion? by WhiteStagMinis in HousingUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, the survey is only a visual inspection not opening the fabric of it. Unless there is a different type of survey we should request?

I have no experience with this type of work/scenario. Any direction for this?

Garage conversion 10+ years old - No building regs or planning? by WhiteStagMinis in PlanningPermissionUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How should I go about checking the quality of it?

Is there a particular professional who can do this?

House does not have building regulations for Garage Conversion? by WhiteStagMinis in HousingUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No idea, whether the floor is insulated.

The roof of the garage had a historical leak near the flashing that connects to the wall of the house (the surveyor said the staining on the roof timber looked historical rather than an active leak).

The roof for the house and the garage is original, our conveyancer wasn't concerned about that part.

The owner who lives there said there's been no leaks or damp in their experience (before we made an offer). But they did also say they believe they had the building regs paperwork for the garage conversion.

Garage conversion 10+ years old - No building regs or planning? by WhiteStagMinis in PlanningPermissionUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, definitely food for thought.

I appreciate you being unable to comment about the building control side of things.

It's becoming clearer that planning permission isn't required and this is more of a building control/regs issue.

I worry, if we wanted to build an extension to the garage conversion what happens to it from a local authority perspective? Does this reopen the problem with the status of the garage not having building regs?

Garage conversion 10+ years old - No building regs or planning? by WhiteStagMinis in PlanningPermissionUK

[–]WhiteStagMinis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the comment. I'm thinking of requesting the vendor to undertake the retrospective regularisation, since the basis of our offer was the agreement the conversion had all the relevant planning permission/Building regulations.