Too Good To Be True

Klaus has moved back to Germany now, so sadly no longer available. Shame because he did a great job on my bay window just before he left.

I've given up trying to get on the Thameslink Northbound from Denmark Hill in rush hour. Get the bus or cycle now.

Good luck with a swimming wetsuit at this time of year. I suspect the Lido would be pretty intolerable even with an 11mm diving wetsuit. That's not to say it can't be done...

Great thanks. If I can't get one locally, will definitely get one online.

Any ideas where I could get one of these for my wife. No branches of Mother seem to stock them. Ringing round other shops... Thanks

Last time I saw Easy D in Time Out it said this: "Somehow, since the millennium, East Dulwich has gone from being a relaxed, vaguely bohemian secret to a caricature of middle-class urban living. The online East Dulwich Forum is one of the most active local area forums in the country, where people get hot under the collar about unsightly advertising hoardings, noise after 10pm, and whether chain shops are welcome (Waitrose only, it seems)" Seemed to split opinion as I recall. I wonder what they say about Claps J Town?

We made sure everything was well ventilated, that there was dampproof protection between the joists/sleeper walls and we used Kingspan. Seems to work well. So basically what Tradesman said. Slathering absolutely everything in damp proof membrane in a Victorian house will definitely cause lots of condensation and rot.

Most roofers I've met/used have been a nightmare, even ones recommended on EDF. I've used Klaus before. He's been excellent and good value. Unfortunately he was injured in a car accident and is now so overloaded with work it's almost impossible to get hold of him. I had a v disappointing experience with Chris Ball Roofing. I'm happy to supply photos/emails etc on this experience via PM if anyone's thinking of using them. I hope Jeff is genuinely reliable, as I may have some more roofing work to do soon.

I live in Camberwell and occasionally get the 40 (usually run or cycle). This explains why the 40 has become rammed in the last few months. I guess people substituting away from the train.

Unless someone cut you up or the markings are unclear I have little sympathy. Clogging box junctions is v selfish. As is straddling pedestrian crossings as the lights turn red.

TBF I'm not highly motivated. If I were, I wouldn't be posting here! I'd be working for the FT or Private Eye. ?52 per sq ft where flats go for more than 10x that does look a little odd. The trigger was a guy who sits next to me at work. He was once seconded to a bank working on PFI bids. He quit because he felt they were making the bids as complicated as possible in order to avoid scrutiny. He now works in a role where his job is to communicate complicated transactions in a simple transparent way to lay people. I thought I might have a go myself in the post above.

Thanks. I've seen the other thread and I agree with almost everything written on it. I'm starting this new thread because I'm interested solely in the basis Southwark used when determining the ?50m sale price and why this wasn't flagged up at the time.

Sorry this isn't strictly ED-specific, but Peter John is head of our council.

According to Wikipedia, Southwark Council sold the 9 hectare (90,000 sq m) Heygate Estate for ?50m. At the time my house and garden in Camberwell was worth about ?600k. My plot is 216 sq m. Let's assume, generously in Southwark Council's favour, that land in E&C is worth the same as Camberwell and that the developer would be forced to build low density housing instead of tower blocks. Let's assume the cost of constructing my house would be a third of its total value at the time, so ?200k. Let's allow the developer a 15% profit margin for taking on the risk. (?600k - ?200k) = ?400k / 216 sq m = ?1,850 per sq m for the land (?1,850 * 90,000 sq m )/1.15 profit margin = ?145,000,000 value of Heygate Estate. Have I made a mistake (other than my v generous assumptions about not building tower blocks/value of land in E&C)?

GinaG3 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How do people earn so much money to be able to buy > as first timers in such an expensive market. Its > beyond me, but its happened. A couple both of whose London-resident grandparents died recently = ?300k deposit. Both City professionals = ?150-200k joint salary no problem. Say they borrow 3.5x joint. Can buy ?900k house. Plenty of people like this want to buy in East Dulwich.

Perpetual problem for me getting visitors parking permits for tradesmen. Often a two-week wait. No accountability. I have complained to everyone over the last couple of years. Once, having sent them after a long delay, the parking zone was wrong, so the tradesman still got a fine.

Forest Gate is a good shout. You want to get in while people still (mistakenly) think it's a hole. Friend of mine who called Stoke Newington correctly (when it was about as rough as Forest Gate is now) has sold for ?1m+ and bought in Forest Gate.

I reckon June completions were the top of the market (for now) in Camberwell. Prices off 8-10% since then. There is a seasonal effect, but I think this is only of the order of about 2-3% from the peak in summer to the trough in winter.

I think cyclists are willing to sacrifice directness for a pleasant ride. For example, I know several cyclists who use LCN23+CS7+Cannon Street to get to Bank, where Walworth+E&C Roundabout+Borough High St+London Bridge would be the quickest route. As long as the pleasant route is well-signposted, I don't see a problem.

Not victim blaming. It's just that the best way to reduce crime is prevention. The reason car crime has fallen is because more people have better car security. If someone (and I'm not saying it's the OP) leaves a laptop in full view and it gets stolen, it will attract more burglars to the area. Bobbies on the beat and more police stations are unlikely to reduce burglaries.

Perhaps the police should hire two reformed convicts to wander up and down ED streets spotting potential burglary targets. Once spotted, potential victim gets a warning letter informing them of a weakness in their property. Potential victim has 90 days to remedy potential weakness. Three warning letters in a three-year period and the police inform your contents insurer.

Here you go: http://www.economist.com/node/21554204

Estate Agents in the US are multiples more expensive than in the UK. The buyer has to pay a fee too. I much prefer the cheap competitive system we have here, even if it does mean you have to put up with clowns.

Can anyone recommend a painter with limewash experience? I will ask for references in the area, so no bluffers please!

Oh and if you are old and can't afford the new Council Tax bands, you get the option of having accrued Council Tax deducted when you sell the house or deducted from your estate when you die. Like someone else said benefiting from house price rises is pure luck.