In 1831 there were riots in Bristol, in Queen’s Square outside the then mansion house, because of rejection by the House of Lords to Parliament wishes to get rid of the ‘rotten boroughs’ in Bristol and other parts of the country in order to give these cities and towns greater representation. Anyway that’s all history, but the property I was looking at today by then was probably getting on for a hundred years old, so no wonder it’s now a grade II* Listed Building. I’d better be careful of what I say, because English Heritage, the ‘people’ who advise on listed buildings live in the Square, so I’ll best not say where about it is! (Why? Because there is a stud partition wall that needs to come down and the people in the Square will probably rant and rave on about it being listed with that partition so it had best be left, Er!….No!) So, back to the building, it does need some TLC and improvement, but I think, I hope that my Clients have all of this in mind. I enjoyed looking at the property, despite my camera battery failing when I was on the roof (so back down and up again with another) and I will do all I can to help, but, no riots please…   more »

I have just seen a pleasant detached house up in Henleaze today. It’s one of a few and like most of the others it too had been extended, and I think there are plans afoot to extend again, but that’s fine. So too was the house, though it does have a small ‘attachment’, a small study with an ‘open’ ablutions area, that may have to come down, although as I said to my client it could be used for errant children, but I’m not sure if that’s still allowed. It’s certainly would not be cricket that is played over the fence…   more »

I had to look at a smart house in the Chew valley today and try and advise on an oil spillage. The house has been renovated, but during the renovations the oil supply pipe was unfortunately ruptured. It was unfortunate because no one knew the pipe was holed until all the oil in the tank was empty and the boiler did not function. What happened to the oil? It seeped into the ground and there I suspect it will stay for ever and ever, but can I be sure? What ‘damage’ could it have done? Has the environment been compromised? What are the implications for re-sale? This is a ‘one-off’ and I wish my former partner was still around to advise me as opposed to advising St Peter, because that is where I expect to find him, but he won’t be drilling for oil…   more »

I had to look at a small one bedroomed flat today on City Road, because, sadly the mortgagors have taken possession. What is its worth? It’s not badly renovated, but the bedroom is very small, so not much room for swinging a cat, let alone anything else for that matter. But what is its value? It’s hard to say when first time buyers can’t get a mortgage unless they have at least a 25% deposit and some lenders may even want more. Would any one wanting to buy a basement flat here even have a higher than average salary to pay for a mortgage, let alone the necessary deposit; I doubt it. So is it a wasting asset? It’s value probably relates to its rental income, but that can’t be all that great both because of its situation and that bedroom…   more »

I’d just put away my passport for another year, having taken my annual ‘hols’ just after the New Year, when I had to get it out again to cross the Severn Bridge (Mk1) to go to Woolaston, via Chepstow! This ‘corner’ cottage was probably originally built in the middle of the 19th century as a farm worker’s abode. It was in the 1970’s rented out, but it had no hot water, no real kitchen and no ‘flushing’ toilet – to you and me a w.c.! The then tenant, perhaps not unreasonably wanted the house improved, to which the landlord agreed, but, again, not unreasonably, he wanted an increased rent, which the tenant did not wish to pay!! Impasse, so the tenant left and the cottage, in derelict condition was sold to the existing vendor, who then renovated and extended it. It has since had two new bathrooms and two new kitchens during that period. It was in reasonably good condition and I am pleased to say has no serious problems. Even the boiler has recently been replaced, but my Clients will have to get used to a septic tank drainage system, although there will be a saving on their rates! They can now proceed happily with their purchase, but they will have to polish up their passports!   more »

Explosions there maybe from time to time, but, nevertheless this bungalow is in a fairly quiet area of Backwell – when, that is there are no explosions from the local quarry – and fortunately they’re not too often! The bungalow I looked at today has been extended, twice, but each seems in keeping, and by and large I found it generally in good condition for its age, style and construction. Happily there are no extensive repairs required, apart from the garage roof and testing of the wiring. My Client will no doubt wish to install a radiator in the extension bedroom, because the lazy builder thought it easier to fit a night storage heater instead of extending the heating system. They may wish to knock down a wall, it’s always good fun, but messy, to enlarge and re-plan the kitchen. The garden probably also needs a bit of re-planning too, but this can wait till the summer, assuming we get one, and then they can sit outside and listen for that bang…   more »