TTW

Put it on the Underhills' credit card

I’m cynical about the water meters due to a recent experience- 
 

We had a water meter installed last year- I have been monitoring the rates but not switched yet. 
 

Recently Thames Water contacted me saying the meter reading suggested a leak on our property (one of their questions when they called was ‘Do you own a swimming pool?’ Lol). 
 

They sent an engineer out (6 weeks later) who determined the fault was not on my property but on the street next to where they installed the meter (hmmmmm….). I’m currently waiting (+6 weeks) for a building team to come out and dig up the pavement and fix it. 

Because of this my recent meter readings have been off the charts expensive. I mentioned to TW that I was about to switch and what could I do about the meter reading issue. I was shocked to discover that even though none of this is my fault once you have a meter it becomes is your responsibility to submit a long ‘leak claim’ form requesting they adjust your bill. I did this and still haven’t heard back from them. 
 

Be warned. 

The house next door to us (terraced) is being renovated. The builders are clearly on a deadline and behind, and are working late into the night every day of the week and on weekends.

We've repeatedly asked them to stop work after 6pm (as per Southwark's regs) and they promise they will, then continue. The new owners of the property (recently sold) make excuses but don't seem inclined to keep to the mandated building hours.

What's the next step for us to get this to stop - Southwark noise? Building regs? Any advice much appreciated.

I’ve also had Russell not show up to previously agree meetings on a couple of occasions. He’s done work for me in the past and I think he’s honest but found the constant chasing (on my part) frustrating and eventually moved on to a better communicator. 

Does anyone have any experience of installing a cat flap into a glass door?

Also, do you have any recommendations for local glaziers who can do it?

Any advice much appreciated.

On 30/08/2023 at 13:33, Rockets said:

TTW - are they still asking for architectural plans/drawings or have they amended the process? 

 

They want a basic scale drawing but have suggested I could do it myself. We need a structural engineer because of the retaining wall and he is going to do the drawing. 

If anyone is interested/looking to do something similar, I ended up speaking to Southwark's planning department and their advice is: 

'planning permission will be required for the bike shed at this location.

I can reassure you that the Council will support this scheme and will seek to fast track a decision as soon as an application is received.'

54 minutes ago, Rockets said:

Don't ask for permission beg for forgiveness if it becomes a problem. The Southwark system is not built for such things and whilst you are supposed to get it reviewed and approved the system is built for house extensions etc. When we did it and went for approval it became a real challenge because they wanted architectural drawings etc and no-one goes to that level of detail for a bike shed.

 

My advice would be as long as your neighbours won't complain the go for it. Keep it within the Asgard size bike shed sizes and you should be fine.

Interesting. Can I ask what happened with yours in the end? Did you have to draw up plans etc?

Hi, wondered if anyone could give me some advice on this.

We have a neglected basement level front garden that we are interested in renovating to build a bike storage shed (a permanent structure out of brick with a flat paved roof).

This will be within the property boundary and below street level (it will be in line with the lower ground floor entrance; the roof will be just below street/pavement level) so it will not really be visible from the street.

We are within the Holly Grove conservation area.

Do you think we will need to see planning permission from Southwark Council?

 

Any advice much appreciated.

 

 

The two individuals in this video / photos dumped a couple of chairs outside our house this afternoon.

https://video.nest.com/clip/75ab600dba16498181bf2762ddedc346.mp4

If anyone recognises them please PM me.

Thanks

Parcel nicked from Chadwick Rd off Bellenden this afternoon https://video.nest.com/clip/906a1fac9684445baf381c950970b27f.mp4

So proud our local surgery is on this list (and completely unsurprised).

Can anyone recommend a decent/reasonably priced sash window company?

The one in Herne Hill has come in with a super pricey quote.

Any advice much appreciated.

Applegreen petrol station on Camberwell had fuel today at 2:30pm. Limit of ?30 per vehicle.

We are having a dispute with a neighbouring housing association property and I'm wondering if anyone can advise. The garden wall between our two properties has partially collapsed. After two years(!) of umming and erring the housing association has admitted that the wall is their responsibility. However, rather than fix/rebuild it, they want to tear it down and stick up a fence (the cheap option). FWIW the resident of the property would like it to remain a wall (as do we).

We live in the Holly Grove conservation area and assumed that the wall (which appears to date back to the construction of the houses) would need to be rebuilt. The housing association say they have consulted the rules and they do not apply to rear garden walls.

Any advice on this matter would be much appreciated!

My wife just witnessed a nasty road rage incident on Camberwell Grove where one driver deliberately rammed another vehicle on the driver?s side. Both cars left the scene - the targeted party apparently fearful for their safety. She is happy to be an eyewitness if needed.

Thanks everyone - much appreciated.

Tree surgeons employed by the council to pollard trees on our street (Chadwick Rd) have smashed a couple of our bins and broken a stone planter.

The contractors made a pitiful attempt at fixing the planter themselves (see attached photos) which is obviously not acceptable.

Does anyone have any recommendations for local craftspeople who could either replace or repair it? Am I looking for a stonemason?

We have a tree with an abundance right now- you're welcome to help yourself. We're on Chadwick Rd. PM me if interested.

I believe so.

Froglander Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> TTW Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > MO is apparently to smash the windows with a

> rock

> > or stone and climb through.

>

> That?s frightening. Were they lower ground floor

> windows that couldn?t be seen very well?

MO is apparently to smash the windows with a rock or stone and climb through.

Here is some video of the suspect -

https://video.nest.com/clip/e0c73a0c07214e4a9ef7bdcf8699ae5c.mp4 (the guy walking up the road at 10:40:45am and down at 10:41:32am).

We're sure it's him as the resident burgled today confronted him as he was exiting her property around 10:46am - she has mobile phone footage (from behind) that matches what this guy is wearing.

Recommending a roofer who has just done a great job on my house: Liam Say - 07757 305042 / [email protected]

I spent the best part of a year being messed around by the couple of roofers who are highly recommended on this forum - I won't name them. Nice guys but very limited availability, terrible communication, and one (the most highly recommended) promised to do the job, booked in a time then cancelled with 12 hours' notice - I gave up after repeated attempts to rebook him.

Liam is based in Tufnell Park but works all over London and I got glowing references for him that have proven to be accurate. Articulate, punctual, great communication and reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

This has happened to us repeatedly on Chadwick Rd, SE15. On several occasions we have caught the perpetrators on camera - one or two white males, always walking up the street towards Grove Park. Seems pretty endemic round here - many people don't realise it's happened because there's no sign of forced entry. We now have a faraday box and haven't been broken into since - annoying but the only solution given how rubbish the car companies have been in addressing it (VW in our case).

Yesterday (Friday) around 2pm three men pulled up on the top end of Chadwick Rd in a dark Range Rover (see picture). One of the men got out and started knocking on multiple doors along the street. He had a single leaflet in his hand but never posted it. When confronted by a neighbour he ran back to the Range Rover and they left sharpish. I have some video of the guy, who is white with a strong Irish accent. His actions look v shifty and leaves quickly when he realises my neighbour is getting a photo of his vehicle.

Video: https://video.nest.com/clip/5128b2078bad44d8a6adf25a7d766eaa.mp4