House Hunt UK (sorted)
- Thread starter Aebous
- Start date
/rant on
Well apparently the realtor/property management people just want my money (I know they all do) and don't care too much about me. (ok this is a long post you can skip to bottom if you want)
Long story short, in the USAF (not sure about other military branches) they like to make sure we have good safe living conditions. The base housing here in the UK has a person that goes out and inspects the houses to make sure they are safe before we are allowed to sign the lease etc. Well my place has/had 2 things wrong, the bathroom tiles were somehow hazardous (something to do with the tiles being poisonous if on fire-I think I'd be more worried about fire) and there were some damp spots in the house. Tiles were supposedly changed and the damp supposedly is surface stuff. Realtor people told me all was good and housing passed the place. I go to do my paperwork, housing says the place did not pass
After many calls back and forth (and sometimes me driving) I'm not moving in until possibly next week. There will be another inspection and this time I will accompany them so I can see what the hell this "damp" is and then I think it will be up to me (housing may say nay) to say if I want the place.
A question I will pose to ya'll,
Can someone try to better explain what the hell they mean by "damp"
From what I've gathered it sounds like the wall (or area in question) is just wet which could lead to mold etc.
Bottom line, realtor never once called me to tell me the place failed or for what and what they were doing to fix it. The only reason I know so much is I called the housing office. That plus yesterday and today having the realtor tell me the place passed then get told by housing no is really pissing me off. I'm very close to dropping them and start searching for a new place to live.
Well apparently the realtor/property management people just want my money (I know they all do) and don't care too much about me. (ok this is a long post you can skip to bottom if you want)
Long story short, in the USAF (not sure about other military branches) they like to make sure we have good safe living conditions. The base housing here in the UK has a person that goes out and inspects the houses to make sure they are safe before we are allowed to sign the lease etc. Well my place has/had 2 things wrong, the bathroom tiles were somehow hazardous (something to do with the tiles being poisonous if on fire-I think I'd be more worried about fire) and there were some damp spots in the house. Tiles were supposedly changed and the damp supposedly is surface stuff. Realtor people told me all was good and housing passed the place. I go to do my paperwork, housing says the place did not pass
After many calls back and forth (and sometimes me driving) I'm not moving in until possibly next week. There will be another inspection and this time I will accompany them so I can see what the hell this "damp" is and then I think it will be up to me (housing may say nay) to say if I want the place.A question I will pose to ya'll,
Can someone try to better explain what the hell they mean by "damp"
From what I've gathered it sounds like the wall (or area in question) is just wet which could lead to mold etc.
Bottom line, realtor never once called me to tell me the place failed or for what and what they were doing to fix it. The only reason I know so much is I called the housing office. That plus yesterday and today having the realtor tell me the place passed then get told by housing no is really pissing me off. I'm very close to dropping them and start searching for a new place to live.
if they have just walked around and poked a damp meter in the wall (which they probably have) tell them to piss off they dont know jack. for a start the house is empty right? - going by the pictures. it could be happening just because it has been shut up and not aired for a while.
as for other causes of damp. depends on location. there are 101 reasons why. could be as simple as a small leak in the roof or the above.
as for the tiles. are you referring to ceiling tiles? there was a time when polystyrene tiles were stuck on ceilings and were not flame retardant. if the place burns you then get covered in molten plastic - nice
Probably is the case as i cant imagine ceramic tiles ever killing you
as for other causes of damp. depends on location. there are 101 reasons why. could be as simple as a small leak in the roof or the above.
as for the tiles. are you referring to ceiling tiles? there was a time when polystyrene tiles were stuck on ceilings and were not flame retardant. if the place burns you then get covered in molten plastic - nice
Probably is the case as i cant imagine ceramic tiles ever killing you
Yeah polystyrene tiles. I believe she did say ceiling tiles.
I don't know if they used a damp meter or not, as you said they probably did. House is empty and has been for a while. That plus what I read on wikipedia and what you said means I'm not as worried anymore. Still have to wait a week though.
I don't know if they used a damp meter or not, as you said they probably did. House is empty and has been for a while. That plus what I read on wikipedia and what you said means I'm not as worried anymore. Still have to wait a week though.
I have not read through the whole thread. But I saw a documentary on TV about Lakenheath US Airbase many years ago. There were schools, supermarket, houses within the base (liked a small village). Can you actually choose to live within the base, instead of renting a house?
Yes and no. If I was married I have the option to live on base. But overseas they pretty much limit base housing to people with immediate family. So I'm forced to stay off base. There are a few ways I could stay on base, but none of them are good. Off base means more money overall for me though 8)....at least if the exchange rate is nicer it would.
I wouldn't call our supermarket a supermarket
We have a grocery store (commissary), and a clothing/electronics/etc store (BX) that depending on where your at overseas may require going to different stores to get an item.
I wouldn't call our supermarket a supermarket
We have a grocery store (commissary), and a clothing/electronics/etc store (BX) that depending on where your at overseas may require going to different stores to get an item.
So I went to the inspection friday to see the damp for myself. One spot is in the cupboard for the dining room area and a small circle on the exterior wall. It's a small diameter and low to the floor, however they had the heat on, but did not have that cupboard door open so I'm not worried about it at all. The other spot was in the utility room about 4 feet above the floor level on an interior wall.....made the inspector and the realtor guy scratch their heads. Again though, the utility room didn't have heat on inside it with door closed. They are thinking part of that is from an electric heater chimney on the other side of the wall, so they will be taking a look into it.
Either way, the lady passed the place. So I pick up keys today!!!!!! GO ME.
One part I'm dissapointed on is yeah they removed the ceiling tiles in the bathrooms, but they didn't replace em. The surface is cleaned up and not raggedly looking but I would of liked new tiles of some type/color.
So I'm curious, if/when I have a housewarming party, how many of ya'll could I expect to show up?
Either way, the lady passed the place. So I pick up keys today!!!!!! GO ME.
One part I'm dissapointed on is yeah they removed the ceiling tiles in the bathrooms, but they didn't replace em. The surface is cleaned up and not raggedly looking but I would of liked new tiles of some type/color.
So I'm curious, if/when I have a housewarming party, how many of ya'll could I expect to show up?
Heh, actually I'm sure if I did say party quite a few people would come out from all corners 
I might wait until I get to meet some people on a cruise first.
OH btw, the Z fits in the Garage! With enough room once the car is in the garage that I think I could do some work on the tires/brakes with little problem.
I might wait until I get to meet some people on a cruise first. OH btw, the Z fits in the Garage! With enough room once the car is in the garage that I think I could do some work on the tires/brakes with little problem.
lacroupade
Veteran
Aebous said:Heh, actually I'm sure if I did say party quite a few people would come out from all corners
OH btw, the Z fits in the Garage! With enough room once the car is in the garage that I think I could do some work on the tires/brakes with little problem.
..as well as hiding from the snow and howling winter winds :drinkwine:
So I need to fill the oil tank.....can anyone recommend a supplier?
I'd prefer a company that will let me make payments on the oil so I don't have to shell out a few hundred quid on the spot.
The let agent helpful folk they aren't, told me to just look online. They said the oil supplier details would be on the tank, but all that's there is the tank manufacture.
I'd prefer a company that will let me make payments on the oil so I don't have to shell out a few hundred quid on the spot.
The let agent helpful folk they aren't, told me to just look online. They said the oil supplier details would be on the tank, but all that's there is the tank manufacture.