Alexx

We used a combination of SBX boards and Techsound matting from soundstop.co.uk laid over the floor. Great website as they have all the performance data for their various options. Hard work though, our delivery for a 2 bed flat came to about 1.4 tons and managed to injure my wrist pretty badly carrying everything up the stairs. As you point out it isn't perfect as sound also travels up walls/chimney breasts but helped a lot. Ours came to exactly £2k.

Might have been discussed before but does anyone know if there is a reason why East Dulwich Road (the narrow bit behind Goose Green) hasn't been made one way only? The majority of the time it is fine but when you get more than 3 or 4 cars trying to pass each other you get a real block, which involves having to mount the pavement/swear at each other to get past. I'm not normally for making roads one way but it doesn't seem sensible as it is right now and the number of times you see a string of blocked cars having to include most of the pavement into the road is a pain for everyone.

I would say they are pretty standard terms for a new lease when buying a flat in this country, let alone this area. Not long ago 99 years was the standard length for a lease. Also you have to think in 25 years ?350 is not going to be near the value it is today. As said above it is standard for the lessee to pay a set share of the maintenance cost for the building, though various acts mean that freeholders can't just charge what they like. Biggest things to look out for is proof of costs for any work done, for example written quotes and copies of final invoices. I would really recommend reading up on section 20 notices which prohibits the freeholder in making large costs (?250 a flat) without formal consultation from the leessees. If you have a difficult freeholder sometimes the easiest thing to do is take over the management. You will have a right to manage the building along with the other lessees, or elect a management company. Again if at least 50% of you team up you also have the right to buy the freehold. This website is very helpful and will go through it all www.lease-advice.org/ I have seen management companies get away with murder, but only because a lot of people are happy to pay their service charge without question. The thread on Southwark Council service charge costs re. contractors charging for work not carried out is a real eye opener. On the other hand your freeholder might be really nice and fair which isn't unheard of!