Quick Question Thread

[DI Bruce Robertson]

Stick it under the grill for 20 minutes, then tell them Grimbo's been round.

Oooft, crispy wings.


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[JamieT1314]

Last meal out I had in Glasgow was a Chinese place called Opium. Was absolutely superb and the Pot Still across the road from it is an excellent boozer

Max's on queen st is where you want to go. Cracking boozer with amazing food.

[just me 2]

Does anybody know a pub in the middle of London where I can sit and watch the horses on the TV without having to remortgage the house to pay for the drink?

[Aidan]

Does anybody know a pub in the middle of London where I can sit and watch the horses on the TV without having to remortgage the house to pay for the drink?

The Friend at Hand beside Russel Square station was reasonably priced from what I remember, although the last time I was in there was probably about 3 years ago.

[Sergeant Wilson]

1 hour ago, just me 2 said:

Does anybody know a pub in the middle of London where I can sit and watch the horses on the TV without having to remortgage the house to pay for the drink?

Middle doesn't narrow it very well in London. Where are you?

Edited August 22, 2016 by Sergeant Wilson

[just me 2]

Charing Cross, staying at Tavistock square so Russell Square sounds ok, the 2 meetings are on different channels though so somewhere that would have them both on would save asking to change every 15 minutes

[Aidan]

Charing Cross, staying at Tavistock square so Russell Square sounds ok, the 2 meetings are on different channels though so somewhere that would have them both on would save asking to change every 15 minutes

They had 3 or 4 screens from what I remember, might be worth giving them a quick ring to check if they'll have it on.

[just me 2]

No racing channels and £9.10 for a pint of cider and a pint of fosters, still a couple of pound cheaper than we were paying this morning though.

[Marsh]

I'm in the process of buying a house, but on the home report it says there was a wall taken away within the property.  The seller is saying it was done before he was there and doesn't have the paperwork for it.  I have since called the council and they don't have any record of it in the past 20 years, which to me means it was done on the fly, or over 20 years ago.  Anyone got any ideas what my next step should be?  Selling solicitors obviously trying to fob us off, but mine won't proceed til we get paperwork for it.

[KnightswoodBear]

4 minutes ago, Marsh said:

I'm in the process of buying a house, but on the home report it says there was a wall taken away within the property.  The seller is saying it was done before he was there and doesn't have the paperwork for it.  I have since called the council and they don't have any record of it in the past 20 years, which to me means it was done on the fly, or over 20 years ago.  Anyone got any ideas what my next step should be?  Selling solicitors obviously trying to fob us off, but mine won't proceed til we get paperwork for it.

I'm pretty sure if it's over a set amount of time, 20 years sticks in my mind, the council give you a letter of exemption for it.

I'm pretty sure we got something similar when we bought our place as the kitchen is in an extension that was added 30 odd years ago.

Edited August 22, 2016 by KnightswoodBear

[Marsh]

1 minute ago, KnightswoodBear said:

I'm pretty sure if it's over a set amount of time, 20 years sticks in my mind, the council give you a letter of exemption for it.

I'm pretty sure we got something similar when we bought our place as the kitchen is in an extension that was added 30 odd years ago.

Yeah they're saying we could get a letter of comfort, but I still think they need to prove it was done "legally".  They only have electronic records back to '96, so maybe they'd have to check the paper records for before that, but apparently SLC have just moved that department to Hamilton and the paper stuff is still in EK, which is inconvenient.  It's been going on for a while now, you'd think the seller would want his money (he's making a fortune on it) but they're dragging their heels for some reason.

[Boghead ranter]

12 minutes ago, Marsh said:

I'm in the process of buying a house, but on the home report it says there was a wall taken away within the property.  The seller is saying it was done before he was there and doesn't have the paperwork for it.  I have since called the council and they don't have any record of it in the past 20 years, which to me means it was done on the fly, or over 20 years ago.  Anyone got any ideas what my next step should be?  Selling solicitors obviously trying to fob us off, but mine won't proceed til we get paperwork for it.

My reckoning is that the seller has to provide docs approving the work, and more fool them if they bought without it, as it's still their responsibility.

I'm no solicitor though, what does your own solicitor say?

[Marsh]

9 minutes ago, Boghead ranter said:

My reckoning is that the seller has to provide docs approving the work, and more fool them if they bought without it, as it's still their responsibility.

I'm no solicitor though, what does your own solicitor say?

He's saying we can't proceed until they come up with either a Letter of Comfort from a surveyor saying its ok, or the permission paperwork from when it was knocked down.  My worry is the guy who is selling knocked it down without permission, and it's a load bearing wall and its not legal and the deal is off.

[Boghead ranter]

Just now, Marsh said:

He's saying we can't proceed until they come up with either a Letter of Comfort from a surveyor saying its ok, or the permission paperwork from when it was knocked down.  My worry is the guy who is selling knocked it down without permission, and it's a load bearing wall and its not legal and the deal is off.

I'd go with your solicitor then, his advice seems to back up my limited knowledge.  Someone, at some time, has made an alteration to the property, which should have been ok'd before being done, by the local authority.  It either has been ok'd and the paperwork lost, or it hasn't been ok'd/never asked for.  Either way the seller can't prove that the work was authorised.

Anyone who buys the property without the paperwork is a bit mad, but also assumes liability to provide the paperwork for the next buyer (unless they're a maddie too).

I'd steer well clear unless they come up with the paperwork and your solicitor is happy with it.  As you say yourself, how do you know the property is safe?

[Marsh]

2 minutes ago, Boghead ranter said:

I'd go with your solicitor then, his advice seems to back up my limited knowledge.  Someone, at some time, has made an alteration to the property, which should have been ok'd before being done, by the local authority.  It either has been ok'd and the paperwork lost, or it hasn't been ok'd/never asked for.  Either way the seller can't prove that the work was authorised.

Anyone who buys the property without the paperwork is a bit mad, but also assumes liability to provide the paperwork for the next buyer (unless they're a maddie too).

I'd steer well clear unless they come up with the paperwork and your solicitor is happy with it.  As you say yourself, how do you know the property is safe?

Yeah exactly.  Hopefully everyone gets their finger out and we can proceed and move in on our proposed date, which is 2 and a half weeks away, its looking less likely every day!  Cheers for the replies guys.

[Dee Man]

1 hour ago, Marsh said:

He's saying we can't proceed until they come up with either a Letter of Comfort from a surveyor saying its ok, or the permission paperwork from when it was knocked down.  My worry is the guy who is selling knocked it down without permission, and it's a load bearing wall and its not legal and the deal is off.

I recently went through the exact same situation, but as the seller. We had to pay the Hamilton office £250 to get the letter of comfort once they had come round to inspect it to ensure it wasn't a load bearing wall. Pretty raging at the full fiasco as it only emerged at the last minute despite us buying the property 8 years earlier in the exact same condition so someone obviously wasn't doing their job at the time. 

Don't expect SLC to be in any rush to get it done btw no matter how much you tell them the deadline is rapidly approaching. Stay on their case as they are absolutely useless. If you need to talk to someone in the office and get the option to stay on the line or get a call back, stay on the line as you'll never get a call back.

Good luck.

Eta: Just remembered that the council rep came round to view the property without advising us that he was coming so there was no one in and he had no keys to get in which we told them they could get from the estate agents. 

 

Edited August 22, 2016 by Dee Man
SLC are fuds.

[Boghead ranter]

5 minutes ago, Dee Man said:

I recently went through the exact same situation, but as the seller. We had to pay the Hamilton office £250 to get the letter of comfort once they had come round to inspect it to ensure it wasn't a load bearing wall. Pretty raging at the full fiasco as it only emerged at the last minute despite us buying the property 8 years earlier in the exact same condition so someone obviously wasn't doing their job at the time. 

Don't expect SLC to be in any rush to get it done btw no matter how much you tell them the deadline is rapidly approaching. Stay on their case as they are absolutely useless. If you need to talk to someone in the office and get the option to stay on the line or get a call back, stay on the line as you'll never get a call back.

Good luck.

 

I'd've expected your solicitor to do what Marsh's is just now, tbh.

[Marsh]

4 minutes ago, Dee Man said:

I recently went through the exact same situation, but as the seller. We had to pay the Hamilton office £250 to get the letter of comfort once they had come round to inspect it to ensure it wasn't a load bearing wall. Pretty raging at the full fiasco as it only emerged at the last minute despite us buying the property 8 years earlier in the exact same condition so someone obviously wasn't doing their job at the time. 

Don't expect SLC to be in any rush to get it done btw no matter how much you tell them the deadline is rapidly approaching. Stay on their case as they are absolutely useless. If you need to talk to someone in the office and get the option to stay on the line or get a call back, stay on the line as you'll never get a call back.

Good luck.

 

Yeah the guy from the council said they have 10 days to do the letter, so hopefully they take pity on us and get done sharpish. The fact the seller doesn't live in the house could also provide a problem with availability for the surveyor to get access.

[DI Bruce Robertson]

I'm in the process of buying a house, but on the home report it says there was a wall taken away within the property.  The seller is saying it was done before he was there and doesn't have the paperwork for it.  I have since called the council and they don't have any record of it in the past 20 years, which to me means it was done on the fly, or over 20 years ago.  Anyone got any ideas what my next step should be?  Selling solicitors obviously trying to fob us off, but mine won't proceed til we get paperwork for it.

Ask Ad Lib "QC" by pm.


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[DI Bruce Robertson]

My QQ is.

Is Aidan the most helpful poster on P&B?
Always polite, and if he can help you out - he will.
Certainly goes against the norm on here.


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