Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

[can'tsleep]

Well I was made redundant nearly 12 months ago and no job joy, Due to amount of savings and redundancy , I get no benefits, so living off dwindling saving. House in bad area, needs expensive refurbishment.
Who can I turn to for safe appropriate financial advice about my options to get out of house, the repair costs massive and ruining my health. I know I won't get top dollar, as have problem neighbours, if it sells at all.

[Pinky69]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

You could consult an independent financial adviser - you will find them in your area if you google - but I doubt they will say more than this is not the time to sell houses and it would be a good idea to ensure it is fully refurbished before you sell.
You cannot help who your neighbours are so once it is refurbished you could drop the price a bit to attract buyers. I would concentrate on the jobs market and consider whether you need to change career direction and what that might entail. As for your health, if the stress is too much I would go along to see your doctor. Reactive depression creeps in quickly and it is better to get on top of it before it gets a hold.

[can'tsleep]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Very Wise words Pinky69

A rambling on my situation
One neighbour I went to council over because of music till 4-5 am of a morning meanig I got no sleep. He has a undertaking to stop harrasing me that stops 25th August, The people who run the housing ain't much help. Took years of complaining to music acted on.

Other neighbour crys if I cut the garden hedge to maintain it. Had lead stolen off door canopy, various garden Items stolen, random car damage on old car.
My newer car, then got corrosive substance thrown on car paint work which is destroying paint!. This was a few days after I trimmed the hedge. Hedge is growing out taking over garden.
Both neighbours don't work and have not for years, they too seem to have mind problems and smoke, take alsorts. One has several friends and two related families living across the green from me.

Hedge disputes are treated as civil matters, so no bugger wants to know.(A conversation with a CAB Laywer informed me of that)

Phoned police and reported crimes but cannot prove who did car damage etc, no video and video cannot see 24hrs a day. car parked on street no secure parking option.

If I park it in front garden, the small garden size means you just extend a arm from the public pavement and you are touching the car.

Stress and depression has kicked in but Doctors tablets just give me dark thoughts and have a laxative effect on me (embarrassed to say). Other advice from Doctor download self help books.

All sensible things for a healthy mind, But I procrastinate, put things off due to the headaches (Side effect I suspect of sleeping pills I take to get some sleep)and down feeling caused worries. Some nights brain wont switch off. Now try and study, learn things when feeling like that!


I also phoned a self referral, mind health service, but appointments take months.
The situation and house have turned into a millstone around my neck. Such a mess, doubt I can hold a job down now, some nights only sleeping 3-4 hours, I cannot function on that amount.

I know, I am very negative on everything. People assume it is my depression but it is the situation I am in that is causing the depression, panic attacks.
I cannot prove things so people assume the are a symptom of the depression.
Frankly I feel gang stalked, by some locals who do things just now and then, that have over the years erroded me down.

I have over the years been a sleep so to speak, trying the ignore the idots, they will get bored solution.

Going on days out and hording stuff, my house full of a lifetme 44 years of people living here. Old worn stained carpets and furniture. Fitting and windows worn.
New windows alone will cost £5200 then new curtains, nets etc. Windows that rotten many falling out.

Tried free law advice centre but their honest advice was. Since I cannot move to try to repair relationship with neighbours.

I know I ramble but as you see, there is no Disney sugary nice solution, cannot sell, cannot move, house so poor repair state it will consume all my savings then trapped with people who hate me. And hedges that will consume house. (they are getting that bad). Even if he is forced to cut them I fear sometime later property or vehicle damage.
How the HELL do you negotiate with a mental Devil and win (It is as mad as the film "Lakeview terrace" with Samuel Jakeson.)
Tried CAB drop in advice centre yesterday, they gave me link to the Money Advice Service. So I could look for advice for a safe financial expert to talk to.
I am living off my savings and for house repair maintenance, they will runout. Then Will I qualify for Benefits or be on the streets or trapped between people who I have never got on with.

It is like policing a area then at night going home to a cell the prison. Neighbours ignore me but do damage to my things now and then. It is harrassment to drive me out.

Whether they know people who eye my poor condition cheap house and large rear (landlocked) garden or just want me out because I don't buy cheap ciggies, smokes, wraps or like music till all hour, all things that go through my mind or that have been suggested by others.

[Mrs James]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Hi can'tsleep,

Sorry to hear about all your problems and I hope things improve for you soon.

Have you looked into if you qualify for help with your home improvements?
Help with home improvements

[can'tsleep]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Hi Mrs James,

Cheers for the positive thoughts. sometimes I think I need a couple of hit men or a bloomin miricle, both alas not really going to happen

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/po...f-1285503.html

Looked at the link Mrs James

I am not registered disabled and I have money, Just not enough to buy a home, move, moving costs, live on etc Sell a home, improve a home.

New roof cost me £3500 in two thousand and six, new windows & rear door £5190 soon.
Then new curtains, decorating repairs etc.

Needs new heating, new kitchen, bathroom, toilet, full refurb.
Such spending only sensible if living here long term or someone else risking renting long term. but mad neighbour, to me, means who the hell will buy.
Even though my 3 bedroom house has a 150 ft rear garden.

A two bed within a mile going to Auction for £45,000 suggested and in better condition. So I don't expect much left to downsize with. Fear will end up renting from Landlord from hell. But when money runs out.

[Mrs James]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Have a look at this link, it may give you some pointers. Tbh, I'm grasping at straws here and I'm sure someone far more knowledgeable will be along soon to give advice.

How to Deal With Noisy or Inconsiderate Neighbours at Problem Neighbours (UK)

[can'tsleep]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed


http://freespace.virgin.net/clare.h/

Home - One Stop Advice

[seduraed]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

I dont know where you live but perhaps some of the following may be of help. Look at good secondhand furniture,some charities refurbish and sell cheaply. Do not be fooled into thinking you need uPVC windows. a good set of wooden frames are much cheaper and can really improve the situation. Try looking at carpet remnants less choice but you get new carpets.
I dont know if you can take in a lodger this may allow the money to go further.

Check the rules about personal pensions it may be possible for you to transfer your money int o a personal pension and hence not have savings.

[shamen]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Id advise you to install a couple of CCTV cameras mate, one front and one back. A friend had no end of problems with neighbors and a lot of the apparent 'revenge' (tyres punctured etc) stopped.

I know that these systems can be expensive, but it recouped its cost within three months after the vandalism stopping.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Both neighbours don't work and have not for years, they too seem to have mind problems and smoke, take alsorts.

Assuming that the reference to all sorts did not indicate a penchant for liquorice sweets, can you not report their drugs habits anonymously via Crimestoppers?

Stress and depression has kicked in but Doctors tablets just give me dark thoughts and have a laxative effect on me (embarrassed to say).

Perhaps the laxative effect is meant to give something real about which to worry? :tinysmile_grin_t:

[can'tsleep]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Well from what I have read on Internet.

The people running the housing for Council due to budget cutting are not getting involved in fence hedge disputes unless part of a agreed plan in anti social cases.

Internet sites says Local MP's will not get involved in neighbour disputes.

The hedge law http://freespace.virgin.net/clare.h/

Says I must speak to my neighbour first. This is a guy who cried for 5 months when I last trimmed them. And then I will be charged to use Hedge law and he can appeal.

It just gets worse.

It is like having to appeal for good will in a asslyum from the in mates.

[can'tsleep]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Assuming that the reference to all sorts did not indicate a penchant for liquorice sweets, can you not report their drugs habits anonymously via Crimestoppers?


Perhaps the laxative effect is meant to give something real about which to worry? :tinysmile_grin_t:

My problems are real enough without the laxative effect CleverCloggs



.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

My problems are real enough without the laxative effect CleverCloggs

.

I know they are, but I had hoped you might appreciate the jest.

[Celestine]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Very Wise words Pinky69

A rambling on my situation
One neighbour I went to council over because of music till 4-5 am of a morning meanig I got no sleep. He has a undertaking to stop harrasing me that stops 25th August, The people who run the housing ain't much help. Took years of complaining to music acted on. Has that neighbour complied? If it starts again after 25th you will need to seek another order. The housing people won't help but persistence and determination on your part will wear them down.

Other neighbour crys if I cut the garden hedge to maintain it.But he didn't sue you? Ignore his crying, he's clearly unstable if he cries over a bl**dy hedge ffs, 6' is a reasonable height. Are the hedges on the boundary, are they positioned correctly, you can trim ANYTHING that incurs onto your side, just offer the clippings back so he doesn't threaten theft. One of the boundary hedges must be yours, so keep that trimmed with no concerns, if the other goes above 6 ft, tell your neighbour you intend to 'top' it in writing due to restriction of light, take photo's and be reasonable. Then take it from there. Had lead stolen off door canopy, various garden Items stolen, random car damage on old car.
My newer car, then got corrosive substance thrown on car paint work which is destroying paint!. This was a few days after I trimmed the hedge. Hedge is growing out taking over garden. As I said before, if hedge overhangs your garden you are entitled top trim the overhang. Buy a car cover for your vehicle and keep it on your front drive, keep the cover well tied down, this will make it harder to attack
Both neighbours don't work and have not for years, they too seem to have mind problems and smoke, take alsorts. One has several friends and two related families living across the green from me. They sound lovely, I grew up with similar neighbours, we learnt to keep a low profile and avoided the worst.

Hedge disputes are treated as civil matters, so no bugger wants to know.(A conversation with a CAB Laywer informed me of that)
Has there been any threats of legal action? Crying doesn't count!
Phoned police and reported crimes but cannot prove who did car damage etc, no video and video cannot see 24hrs a day. car parked on street no secure parking option.

If I park it in front garden, the small garden size means you just extend a arm from the public pavement and you are touching the car.

Stress and depression has kicked in but Doctors tablets just give me dark thoughts and have a laxative effect on me (embarrassed to say). Other advice from Doctor download self help books. Get doctor to try you on different tablets, it takes a while to find the one that works for you.

All sensible things for a healthy mind, But I procrastinate, put things off due to the headaches (Side effect I suspect of sleeping pills I take to get some sleep)and down feeling caused worries. Some nights brain wont switch off. Now try and study, learn things when feeling like that! This situation will pull you down if you let it, again, sounds like wrong medication, go back to your doctor or try a natural alternative.


I also phoned a self referral, mind health service, but appointments take months.
The situation and house have turned into a millstone around my neck. Such a mess, doubt I can hold a job down now, some nights only sleeping 3-4 hours, I cannot function on that amount. Get sleep whenever you can, nap if necessary, but getting some of these problems solved will be the REAL help.

I know, I am very negative on everything. People assume it is my depression but it is the situation I am in that is causing the depression, panic attacks. I agree, so even more important to fight back, but I suspect the depression is robbing you of your motivation
I cannot prove things so people assume the are a symptom of the depression.
Frankly I feel gang stalked, by some locals who do things just now and then, that have over the years erroded me down.

I have over the years been a sleep so to speak, trying the ignore the idots, they will get bored solution.

Going on days out and hording stuff, my house full of a lifetme 44 years of people living here. Old worn stained carpets and furniture. Fitting and windows worn.
New windows alone will cost £5200 then new curtains, nets etc. Windows that rotten many falling out.
Right, here's the tough part. Only you can make a start on this. Hire a skip. A 6 yarder is about £140, if it has to be on the street you will need a licence, if it can fit on your garden it will not need a licence.Start with the rooms at the top of the house. Empty one at a time. Anything you want to keep, box up and put in loft or storage facility. Anything that's rubbish put in skip, anything else donate to charity or sell to a furniture clearance company, make sure you hang on to possessions you love but BE ruthless, it will have an amazing affect. Then, room by room, decorate in pale clean colours, paint the woodwork carefully in bright white gloss after you've cleaned it all and if necessary sanded down. If you need any DIY tips or advice come back to me, I was a builder and landscaper for 10 years. You don't have to be an expert, just slow and careful. The materials are cheap. You can't waste money on builders or decorators, but you can do the lions share yourself. You say the windows need doing, 5k sounds a hell of a lot, please get lots of more quotes and haggle like hell, all companies are competing for business at the moment. Are the carpets really wrecked? Could they be cleaned? Could they be pulled up and the floors sanded and painted and use rugs? There is always a cheaper way.

Tried free law advice centre but their honest advice was. Since I cannot move to try to repair relationship with neighbours.

I know I ramble but as you see, there is no Disney sugary nice solution, cannot sell, cannot move, house so poor repair state it will consume all my savings then trapped with people who hate me. And hedges that will consume house. (they are getting that bad). Even if he is forced to cut them I fear sometime later property or vehicle damage.
How the HELL do you negotiate with a mental Devil and win (It is as mad as the film "Lakeview terrace" with Samuel Jakeson.)
Tried CAB drop in advice centre yesterday, they gave me link to the Money Advice Service. So I could look for advice for a safe financial expert to talk to.
I am living off my savings and for house repair maintenance, they will runout. Then Will I qualify for Benefits or be on the streets or trapped between people who I have never got on with.

It is like policing a area then at night going home to a cell the prison. Neighbours ignore me but do damage to my things now and then. It is harrassment to drive me out.

Whether they know people who eye my poor condition cheap house and large rear (landlocked) garden or just want me out because I don't buy cheap ciggies, smokes, wraps or like music till all hour, all things that go through my mind or that have been suggested by others.

You have to disconnect from the neighbour issues, they are eating you up. Once you've tidied the house up, you could consider renting it out/selling it and then either moving to a nice rental or buying again. I know it seems impossible at the moment but you can't let these b*ggers win can you?

xoxox

[can'tsleep]

Re: Money, Redundant, house need refurb advice needed

Celestine You are right things need action. But yes they are winning. I cannot prove what they are, have done and I have no hench men to break a few knees etc. So cannot hit back. It is a form of bullying.

Northward housing have said on their site that due to budget cuts they are only taking action where there is agreed work due to anti social behaviour. Trouble is that yes what my neighbour is doing is Anti social but I cannot prove it is by or because of him. It is just my word, assumptions and not legal proof. I have tried getting local Pcs offier involved but although he tried, there is no direct proof and my neighbour is a drug user but doing no obvious major dealing it seems.

You are reasonable, approachable and will use logic.
My neighbour has already committed a crimminal act when he caused the first car damage but I cannot prove it! As I have no proof.

The hedge is at present about 15ft tall!
All this as gone on to long and this evil neighbour does not care for the law or act legal. Yes I do fear consequences of approaching him and his family. The hedge has grown out and up on my side. and my rear garden is 150 ft long.

All my carpets are past it, some of the up stairs ones the backing has crumbled and they are little more than rags covering the floorboards. I have so much on my plate at moment that considering improving a house as well would be madness. It really does need gutting and refurbished, by the time I had spent that much money I will be to poor, income gone. I suspect I am trapped here as procrastinate so much that will never get out as property values exceed what I can afford.
Even if I buy it has to be in a good condition So I could live there without major improvements as I have no large pot of everlasting income. and only a temp part time job (If I can do the work)

People just say we will cope but it frightens the crap out of me. Fitting major work around even a part time job is beyond me.
So far it is start this job (hope I can pass the training)
Windows being done.
Have thrown alot out but house still a tip.
I must somehow try to get my neighbour to agree to a major prunning of the dividging privet hedge. While I might be able to legally threaten and win that the hedge gets cut, I fear damage to vehicle meaning I cannot get or afford insurance.

My front garden is so small with no rear access for car that even when parked in front , the front car bumper meet the public tarmaced pavement.

A house in better condition is going to auction at £45,000. Then there are the selling, solicitors, moving fees.

I fear I am really only going to get a low income job if that and my saving mean I don't qualify for benefits. Where do you go to find out how you are legally allowed to spend, dispose of savings, without losing the right to benefits once they are gone? I hope and pray to find perminant full time work.

But basically I am shafted, is my only conclution.