Looking to buy Grad II listed

[Greg.hart]

Hi Guys, be nice to me as I'm new to pretty everything, house wise.

I've been reading through and got some great hints and tips but have a quick question.

I'm looking to buy a basement flat (grade II) circa 1880 in which the pillock of a previous owner put in uPVC without LBC. The property currently has some damp mainly to the front (which is below street level with a small courtyard and stairs for access) and one side of the property with blistering up to about 75cm high

We are getting LBC and planning (Not sure why planning is needed but hey it's anotyher £135 for the council!) and I was going to wait until we had the sash windows back in and seeing whether this improved the damp, howver the falt above is getting damp and the owner is saying that it is originating from the ground floor flat?

Is this likely to be the case as I can not see any visible damp where the wall meets the ceiling?

Ta

 

[Penners]

uPVC windows are works of the Devil for a number of reasons, but unless they have been badly installed, they shouldn't actually cause damp. So I'm not sure that removing them and re-installing sash windows is going to cure your damp problem.

If the owner of the flat above is blaming the basement flat for his damp, what is his evidence? What is the nature of his damp, and where is it occurring?

 

[biffvernon]

Do query the £135 - there usually isn't a fee for the planning permission on change of windows.

 

[Penners]

Biff, am I right in thinking that Greg would also need building control consent to install new windows?

 

[NT]

howver the falt above is getting damp and the owner is saying that it is originating from the ground floor flat?

Is this likely to be the case as I can not see any visible damp where the wall meets the ceiling?

No. Not unless anyone has recently discovered 'jumping damp.'


NT

 

[Moo]

I wonder how the upstairs neighbour would feel if, should you be unable to diagnose the cause of his/her damp, you suggested that he/she/they share the cost of getting in a specialist surveyor experienced in dealing with old buildings?


(ps. wouldn't it be hilarious if it transpired that your damp was being caused by your upstairs neighbour, instead of the other way round?)

 

[biffvernon]

Biff, am I right in thinking that Greg would also need building control consent to install new windows?

We discussed this in another thread recently. As the building is listed, Greg needs Listed Buildings Consent. If the house is in a Conservation Area subject to an Article 4 Directive, he may also need Planning Approval (for which, as I understand it, there should be no fee payable). Consent under Buildings Regulations might, or might not be needed. Part-L will probably not apply but they might have a view about structure if lintels are an issue. It's all rather murky and from my experience the officers of the Local Authority don't always know what they want anyway and just when you think you're sorted there's a change in personel.

 

[plumbers mate]

>> Not unless anyone has recently discovered 'jumping damp.'

SShhh!!
Some crafty surveyor somewhere will if they can get money for telling you you have it and crafty builders will charge the earth for "fixing" it

 

[Greg.hart]

Biff, am I right in thinking that Greg would also need building control consent to install new windows?

We discussed this in another thread recently. As the building is listed, Greg needs Listed Buildings Consent. If the house is in a Conservation Area subject to an Article 4 Directive, he may also need Planning Approval (for which, as I understand it, there should be no fee payable). Consent under Buildings Regulations might, or might not be needed. Part-L will probably not apply but they might have a view about structure if lintels are an issue. It's all rather murky and from my experience the officers of the Local Authority don't always know what they want anyway and just when you think you're sorted there's a change in personel.

Tell me about it I have had so much conflicting info re this. That it's really doing me in.

What would be nice is if planning would just tell me what windows they want put back in, as at the moment I'm pretty much guessing from the surounding properties.

Thanks for you help, thought he was prob talking rubbish.

I have looked into the planning charge and they are sticking to their guns as it's not related to the LBC or Conservations Area, it's because it's a flat aparently.