BeePee

Yep - LTR and I I think are local to one another. It's a lovely city and generally surrounded by some good countryside, a good mix of housing and decent places to live! The city centre itself is massively overheated IMHO and is quite well propped by the student rental market too. Lots of dedicated student accommodation is popping up though so there's plenty of things to mull over and observe. I think the examples I've posted sum up how many people are kite flying with sky high asking prices but who are perhaps people who may actually need to sell??? A large number of these kite flying listings do tend to just disappear from RM. B

It's the monthly 25k slashing bonanza.... https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75747320.html?premiumA=true Come Feb they'll be at the £355k they paid for it three years ago. It's quite warming to see that a person's dream of making 50k a year for nothing has been shattered. B

Quite... this is quite close to me. Road is a main route into Canterbury. And yes, the pub opposite is due to be developed any day I believe. Lovely old building though, and Littlebourne is a desirable village as it;s well served by bus stops, shops, pubs etc. I've been watching this listing for a while. I personally wouldn't touch a listed building though - you're buying a whole load of liability.

Huzzah.... Not posted for a while but this is a gem: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73219916.html Paid £362,500 in 2007. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=54418860&sale=36088197&country=england

Yep - 2020 I believe for any existing tenancies. Which is outrageous. On the plus side, you would have a bit of leverage asking your landlord to have something done. As they would have to undertake upgrades and improvements should you quit the tenancy.

This is a difficult topic. Alternative living styles are great, and I enjoy reading how people are making different ideas work for themselves. However, choosing to live in a container /old bus/ micro apartment is a personal choice. It is most definitely not a solution the housing crisis. It's a result of it. My fear is that raising these ideas will promote developer led alternatives that will become the new normal and will no longer cost the suggested 10k! Remove the props that encourage property to be seen as an investment, and cut cheap lending and these articles will not exist.

Hideous. There are national space standards, but it seems they are avoidable. Which as an architect, makes my blood boil. I see no indication of floor area but I suspect this would make a comfortable 2 bed four person house. It's often considered that open plan (combined cooking, eating and living) is unacceptable for 3 or more bedrooms (I.e. A typical family). And of course, who doesn't like a fake chimney? I was expecting a focal wood burner /stove breaking up that open plan space...

Gradually realising the error of their ways down here in Kent....? It's only taken 4 years! http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40104523.html

WICAO - late I know but thanks for the help! Since the last posts I have moved on from my previous job with a view to setting up my own company. FWIW my previous employer shrunk inside themselves when I asked about the potential for salary sacrifice, and the pension advice avoided my questioning of further charges and costs. This was in front of the rest of the office. I feel much happier with it in my own hands!

Great find! As an Architect I'd certainly hope it wasn't any of us that drew it! My experiencing of working indirectly (others in the office) with large house builders leads me to think that there is not a lot we can do about it. Our ideas are squashed/crushed and any implementation of key proportions and details that lift quality and appearance is typically questioned against cost. As noted above - a couple of courses above a window opening, across 100 houses - that saving will feed into someone's bonus pot. Working with more independent developers you do experience more concern towards how they value their buildings and the product they are selling. I'm not sure what the answer is, local authority involvement seems higher than ever yet buildings that we see above are permissible. It's another side affect of dwellings being seen as pure profit machines. The population also seem to be very complacent in what is acceptable in terms of housing stock too. As in, it is what it is. Yet cars, interior fittings are judged entirely different. B

Sounds like a recipe for a great big rant!! :/ On a more positive note - The student let I mentioned previous has had another 5k taken off. We're 5k away from Nov 16 purchase price, and 25k from Apr 10 price. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=43075362&sale=88955739&country=england

An example: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46974072.html Bought for £230k last November and attracting no attention at £240k for the last 6 weeks....

Another Canterbury based fellow here too. I have noticed an influx of rentals coming to the market and am very interested to see how this plays out. Especially considering the amount of rentals, many of them student lets. Add to this the influx of 'student hall' type dedicated accommodation coming forward too.

Thanks for the comments and advice all. Repairs were made today after a week without hot water. I'm going to formally note how we were unhappy with how the situation was dealt with and keep it up our sleeve should further disputes arise. B

https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/projects/battersea-rethinks-affordable-homes-in-1bn-phase-three/10019294.article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/04/24/battersea-power-station-delays-building-affordable-homes-due/