Energy costs

[Baldbloke]

I'm not familiar with the system in Scotland, but in England that would be catastrophic.

 

We would not actually be allowed to make the changes necessary to uprate the house and, like you, many of the energy efficiency measures we have made do not count. We have early glass in some of the windows, so would not be allowed to remove it. Our walls are 4" thick lath and plaster which we would not be allowed to remove. Cladding over it with a modern system would reduce breathability and it would rot, for which we would be held accountable. Installing heavy thermal curtains, underfloor heating and thermal plaster do not count because they are not in the assessor's checklist. We do not have solar panels because the artificially inflated costs are designed to become affordable once you factor in the grants, but we do not qualify for the grants because our property does not meet the necessary energy efficiency levels, which we can't do because of the above. Catch 22.

 

If you make listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas legally unsaleable then the residents have to live there until they die, and then they are left to fall apart. It's worse with listed as technically the owner still has to pay to repair it.

 

You might think things would be joined up in this regard but they really aren't. When I built our extension it had to comply with both building control and listed buildings. These were totally different functions and although the relevant officers sat in the same council building they didn't talk. They both put forward their stipulations and I was obliged to find a way to reconcile them. If new legislation makes that impossible it will fall on the homeowner to deal with that problem. The only way I can see that being resolved is if the regulations alienate enough voters simultaneously that it costs them an election.

 

Alec

 

Good post.

 

Our issue is that because we bought a property that should have been listed, ours isn’t, so I don’t have that valid argument. The chap we bought it from worked in the Council and was able to avoid listing in order to rip out some features during renovations and not have the burden of inspections after work[emoji849]

 

 

[Stubby]

4 hours ago, coppice cutter said:

I believe a bigger issue with tidal is that you have slack water on average four times per day.

 

So while tides may be constant, it would take a series of them all along an area of coastline to provide anything approaching a practical supply.

We have 2 high tide times in and around the Solent .  As the moon pulls the water in some of it has to find its way round the tip of the I.O.W. so you get a second high tide a bit after the first one . Neat innit ? 🙂

[Stubby]

30 minutes ago, Big J said:

It again comes down to one fundamental problem with UK housing - that it's treated as an investment, not a home. 

 

We don't really place any value on the green credentials of a house and money invested in insulation and sustainable heating isn't recouped at the point of sale. So it's often not done.

 

Couple that with the general inadequacy of housing in the UK, where people have to continually hop up the ladder to get a house that grows with their needs. Moving house is extremely expensive in the UK, which is a whole load more wasted money. The UK average moving cost is £9k - it'll cost us less to move to Sweden, including all fees. 

 

Then add in the expectation that new technology adoption, or insulation improvement should be payed for by the state. Improvement only occurs if someone else pays for it, which is an odd mindset.

 

The UK housing market it absolutely and completely f*cked on so, so many levels. It just doesn't function for anyone except the most wealthy. Very few people live in houses that would be considered decent by European standards. New builds in the UK average 103 kwh/square metre. Older houses 294 kwh/square metre. We've bought a 1957 house in Sweden of typical construction and if memory serves, the energy use is around 65 kwh/square metre. Keep in mind that it's much, much colder there in winter too.

 

And then there's planning too. So many developments are pushed through without adequate affordable housing provision. No infrastructure is put in place, roads are barely upgraded. Planners continue to favour large developers, shitting on the self builders. Ecologically barren farmland greenbelt land is sacrosanct (and won't be built on), second home ownership is rife and local people are priced out of so many markets. 

 

I'm really, really grateful to be leaving. I wouldn't have the first idea how to buy/build an affordable, sustainable, spacious home for my family now in this part of the UK. 

Its shocking Jonathan when you view it like that matey . Right , everyone off to Sweden

[eggsarascal]

37 minutes ago, Big J said:

It again comes down to one fundamental problem with UK housing - that it's treated as an investment, not a home. 

 

We don't really place any value on the green credentials of a house and money invested in insulation and sustainable heating isn't recouped at the point of sale. So it's often not done.

 

Couple that with the general inadequacy of housing in the UK, where people have to continually hop up the ladder to get a house that grows with their needs. Moving house is extremely expensive in the UK, which is a whole load more wasted money. The UK average moving cost is £9k - it'll cost us less to move to Sweden, including all fees. 

 

Then add in the expectation that new technology adoption, or insulation improvement should be payed for by the state. Improvement only occurs if someone else pays for it, which is an odd mindset.

 

The UK housing market it absolutely and completely f*cked on so, so many levels. It just doesn't function for anyone except the most wealthy. Very few people live in houses that would be considered decent by European standards. New builds in the UK average 103 kwh/square metre. Older houses 294 kwh/square metre. We've bought a 1957 house in Sweden of typical construction and if memory serves, the energy use is around 65 kwh/square metre. Keep in mind that it's much, much colder there in winter too.

 

And then there's planning too. So many developments are pushed through without adequate affordable housing provision. No infrastructure is put in place, roads are barely upgraded. Planners continue to favour large developers, shitting on the self builders. Ecologically barren farmland greenbelt land is sacrosanct (and won't be built on), second home ownership is rife and local people are priced out of so many markets. 

 

I'm really, really grateful to be leaving. I wouldn't have the first idea how to buy/build an affordable, sustainable, spacious home for my family now in this part of the UK. 

Stop talking nonsense, you'll be back from Sweden within 5 years, you are chasing a dream that isn't there. I've a brother just the same. I went about with a lass from just outside of Gothenburg, she'd never go back. Things here might be shite, things in Sweden are not much better. Thinking about it, I've got a pound says you won't last five years out there.

[trigger_andy]

53 minutes ago, Big J said:

It again comes down to one fundamental problem with UK housing - that it's treated as an investment, not a home.

It has to be an investment if you're being forced into spending upwards of £30,000 in upgrades to a property where the law has given all the rights to the tenants. 

 

In Norway the owner has far more rights than they do in the UK. But of course houses, like they are globally, are seen as an investment. This is something thats never ever going to go away unless we go full on Communist. 

[Stubby]

4 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

 

 

 

I don't want to derail the thread, but what exactly do you think we'll miss from the UK? I can hardly be accused of being England's greatest cheerleader.....

Narrow country roads , muppets that can't revers a Fiat Panda ( when you have a tractor and tailor with a mini harvester on board ) shit housing ( baking hot in summer freezing cold in winter ) , rain and some more rain then rain , mud and some more mud You love it mate   😁  Thing is Jonathan what would you have to moan about over there ?

[eggsarascal]

2 minutes ago, Big J said:

Ever the optimist, eh?! 😆

 

I think you underestimate me a little. We've been debating moving to Europe since 2014. Through the pull of family, we moved to Devon to try out England. Really didn't like it. So back to plan A, which is what we ought to have done all along, but at least this way we know that England isn't viable for us. 

 

I don't want to derail the thread, but what exactly do you think we'll miss from the UK? I can hardly be accused of being England's greatest cheerleader.....

It's not about being a glass half empty fella, it's fact, we all head home at some stage. I've lived all over this country and I always head back to Staffordshire, our kid has lived all over the world, Japan and Australia mainly, he always ends up back here.

 

Like I said, you'll be back within 5 years. Probably complaining about how shit the law/rules are over there.

[trigger_andy]

23 hours ago, eggsarascal said:

Stop talking nonsense, you'll be back from Sweden within 5 years, you are chasing a dream that isn't there. I've a brother just the same. I went about with a lass from just outside of Gothenburg, she'd never go back. Things here might be shite, things in Sweden are not much better. Thinking about it, I've got a pound says you won't last five years out there.

Im not so sure. I'll take that quid bet.  

 

Watch out  Dempsie will be along sooner or later with an offer I cant help but refuse.

Edited February 7, 2022 by trigger_andy

[eggsarascal]

5 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

You're assuming I have a sense of home. I don't. Really the only place I feel any affinity or nostaglia for is my mum's birth city Osnabrück, and that's because I spent large amounts of time there as a kid. 

 

(and again, apologies for the derail)

 

I look at a place to live objectively:

 

I want somewhere I can buy a large family house without a mortgage. Check. I want seasons. Check. I want my children to have unencumbered access to free education and equal opportunity. Check. I want to live in a socialist country. Check. I want to live in a country with the right to roam. Check. I want to live in a country with ample available work. Check. I don't want to be on the other side of the world for friends and family to visit. Check. I want to become properly trilingual, and for my children to do the same. Check. 

 

I'm not bothered about pubs, I don't care about football or rugby. I can't stand traffic, British weather or mud. I hate the increasing inequality in UK society. The fuel poverty situation here even made Swedish news. I have friends and family, but they are all outward looking and international and will visit us happily. Most of our friends are in Scotland and it's as quick to get back to Scotland from Sweden as it is from Devon. 

 

I'll happily take your bet, but I'm curious what you think will bring us back? I am unlikely to even visit more than once a year. 

 

 

Probably mosquitos and bad pop music! 😄

We'll see.

[Stubby]

9 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

We'll see.

I'm on the edge of my seat now boys . Only problem is when J does or does not come back I will not be around to witness it 😁