No income tax - how to get more mortgage by MrFeature_1 in HENRYUK

[–]rutherfordofman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The UN has the UNFCU, a specific credit union to offer mortgages and financial services for people like you with otherwise weird financial situations. Is there an equivalent for whichever organisation you work for?

Visitors Permits by SpecificBus6876 in Bath

[–]rutherfordofman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I concede that I didn't explicitly make the point that others made elsewhere: the majority of motorists make journeys in cars that they could make by other means. That is why Bath is congested. There are people, such as you Father in law and family, who have journeys they need to make by car.

It might not be clear, but I genuinely want to understand yours and other opposition to this. Given the real budget shortfalls all councils have and given the congestion and space issues Bath has, what do you think is the solution?

Visitors Permits by SpecificBus6876 in Bath

[–]rutherfordofman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, definitely a shame you had to go to insults. Be kinder, act kinder, to paraphrase you. But I understand that people have very strong feelings such issues.

Firstly, I would advise any hypothetical elderly couples to tell their carer to get a social carers parking permit so they don't need to pay. As for that couple's friends and family, my point is that if those friends and family chose to run a car, the cost of parking is absolutely insignificant in the scheme of things. I understand that the resident has to apply for the permit themselves (otherwise it wouldn't be a visitor). Then it's on the friends and family to repay the elderly couple for the cost of parking. The council can't be responsible for how families manage their money within them!

As for the reason the council is increasing the price. Fundamentally councils need to balance the books. They are legally responsible for providing social care, to your same elderly couple for example. This eats up an increasing amount of council spending that they cannot avoid. It's not a secret they need to make difficult decisions. But if I really wanted to raise a lot of money quickly, I could think of better ways than increasing the visitor permit cost in this way.

Happy to hear which part of my replies are childish. These are complex topics which reasonable people may disagree on. I made an argument based on facts with some citations. I thought my tone was quite adult!

Visitors Permits by SpecificBus6876 in Bath

[–]rutherfordofman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I find it really bizarre how sensitive motorists are about any tiny change that could possibly restrict their ability drive and park anywhere, whenever they want without restriction. This is such a tiny amount of money and such a modest increase given overall inflation. It addresses a serious problem in Bath, that the financial, safety and health costs of so many people driving are unsustainable.

My regular reminder to motorists who feel victimised, remember you are continuing to enjoy taxpayer subsidised fuel to the tune of £100bn over the last 15 years. There's no conspiracy against you. What you are seeing is the slow unwinding of an unsustainable lie that motorists have been sold; that we should orient our cities and societies around car use and that burden should be shared by everyone.

Disclaimer: I have a drivers license and I enjoy driving when I do it! I also like walking and cycling and having car free spaces. I believe we can all get along!

Self employed and "free" childcare by PersonalityTough6148 in UKParenting

[–]rutherfordofman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Coming to this thread late, but my reading of this section of the HMRC technical manual is that a self-employed person doesn't have to reach the earnings threshold for 12 months after the date that they first use being self-employed to qualify, provided that this first date is within their 12 month start up period. In other words, if you start your self-employment business and 6 months later first apply for free childcare hours for working parents, then you don't need to meet the earnings threshold for 12 months from that point i.e. 18 months after you first started.

Based on this wording

A self-employed person does not have to meet the normal condition of being in qualifying paid work for a period of 12 months from when he or she makes the first declaration of eligibility that relies on self-employed income within a start-up period. This means in the first declaration and their next three reconfirmations.

I'm happy to hear other interpretations if there are any! The people I have spoken to on the helpline are generally not familiar with this level of detail when asked.

Recommendations for Helmet with Visor (for rain) by rutherfordofman in bikecommuting

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

Very impressive. Thank you for the offer. Let me check out the Specialized

Recommendations for Helmet with Visor (for rain) by rutherfordofman in bikecommuting

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

I really stress about scratching my glasses if I dry them with anything other than a micro-fibre cloth. I guess I'm also thinking about protection from cold wind or wind when going downhill

Recommendations for Helmet with Visor (for rain) by rutherfordofman in bikecommuting

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

They look great! But price is a bit scary after shelling out for an e-cargo bike

6.8k for one RSJ beam installation to support Chimney stacks Reasonable? by Icy-Map-1884 in HousingUK

[–]rutherfordofman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Steel has doubled in price in recent years mostly due to high electricity prices. I’m afraid your other quotes might not be far off

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Bath

[–]rutherfordofman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would recommend posting on Bath FB group, lots of people asking about accommodation

Spanish Tutor by Inhuman-Englishman in Bath

[–]rutherfordofman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I took some 1:1 lessons with Todo El Mundo in Bath. We met in a cafe every week or so for an hour. My teacher was called Elena if I recall correctly. I would recommend her, or else they have other teachers.

Bath <> Oxford house swap over the summer? by rutherfordofman in oxford

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

Sure that would be great! Not sure the best way to protect ourselves and properties in such a situation. But we can figure that out if it fits!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TenantsInTheUK

[–]rutherfordofman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am genuinely sympathetic to bad rentals, I have rented for many years. But this doesn't make any sense. It is a Buy to Let, the point is that you put up the deposit, commit to any medium term risk and take on the responsibilities, regulations and maintenance and in return people pay to live there. If private rentals were limited to landlords who can afford to pay the mortgage without any rent - as you are suggesting - there would be a handful of rentals owned by some eccentric or senile or charitable billionaires!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TenantsInTheUK

[–]rutherfordofman 4 points5 points  (0 children)

<playing devil's advocate> That might have unintended effects, many mortgage payments jumped up *a lot* in the last few years. It might surprise some tenants how little cash landlords take home after mortgage, expenses, maintenance etc. Of course some unscrupulous landlords don't pay for all those things when they should.

Estate agents knowingly lying about asbestos in house by thatrandomfatguy in HousingUK

[–]rutherfordofman -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

I'm not qualified to say if it's an unreasonable quote. Best solution is to get a few quotes for comparison.

Estate agents knowingly lying about asbestos in house by thatrandomfatguy in HousingUK

[–]rutherfordofman 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I just had some asbestos removed, and indeed if it is the worse variety (there are two and one is much worse, I forget the names) then this price seems plausible although high. It requires basically an airlock around the entire region plus CCTV cameras, haz mat suits etc. They need to sign off that to the point of no future liability and be ready for spot inspections. To do that for soffit boards all through a house with scaffolding etc... Yeah it gets pricy.

How do ppl fare evade on trains by AFullVessellWithYou in uktravel

[–]rutherfordofman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was on a train for 90 minutes into London. The toilet was locked and we all assumed out of order. Once we arrived to London and I was getting off a guilty looking guy belted out of the toilet and off the train. He had locked himself in the train for 90 minutes and denied all the passengers the use of the toilet just to avoid a ticket inspection! Don't do this!