Hi Alice, you're on the right track! The layout of your flat is quite rigid and there isn't much that can be done within reasonable effort (and price). You might also consider removing the wall to the stair and moving the first steps towards the toilet. This will further enlarge the space. Hiring a building company would of course increase the cost by 15-20% but if you don't have any experience in construction and project management, it is by far the most sensible thing to do. For a price tag, even a rough estimate, we would need quite a few more details about the existing house, furniture, finishes. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any further questions, I will be more than happy to help. just drop me a line to service@betterspace.co or visit our website - betterspace.co Good luck!

I think it comes down to the wording used at the beginning of discussions. You say that they have given you an estimate. Estimates can’t be relied on by you and are not binding like a quote. It may be that when they started the job they uncovered additional work. It may be that they estimated for basic ceramic tiling but perhaps you bought porcelain tiles that take much longer to cut. Perhaps you had more tiling than they thought, perhaps you changed something mid job and this entailed unexpected extra work. In fairness they perhaps should have alerted you to the rising cost but I suspect that you have no legal recourse and they would be successful if they took you to a small claims court for non payment.

I don’t think this survey tells you much and certainly not enough to decide to walk away. It hasn’t found the cause of the problem so there cost of the solution can’t be estimated. No Victorian houses were built with damp proof courses. They rely on being slightly raised from ground level. You might explore if a side path is too high, or if a rainwater gutter is running down the outside or if a drain has cracked. You might look at the cracking at the back- if paintwork only is cracked then it’s a maintenance issue but if the cracking affects the brickwork or can be seen inside then it’s more serious. Once you understand the cause of the problem you can better understand the costs involved. As far as repairing damage the survey doesn’t actually say what the damage is. It might be that when you take up floor coverings it’s fine or you might have some rot and need to replace timbers. It think you need to investigate further before you can decide. A builder or a timber and damp specialist needs to be able to lift floors and properly inspect. Be aware that some specialists charge for this service.

Hi Nicolas! Costs vary wildly across the country. Rule of thumb estimates for new-build space currently are between £1,800 - 2,600, but of course detailed decisions will massively affect this. For example if you have a carrera marble kitchen worktop it's going to cost a lot more than a laminate one - multiply that by making lots of other more costly choices and it can easily double and more. So you can only take these figures as a guideline. Don't forget to put a figure against spaces that you are looking to refurbish too. I would tend to use the lower estimate per square meter for refurbished space and the higher estimate for new-build and kitchens / bathrooms - because they tend to have more expensive fittings and finishes than other spaces. Best to estimate high from the outset and be comfortable financially than to estimate low and struggle to achieve what you want. Once you've completed your purchase and you're looking for help with your designs I can help you with my sketch design package - the Big Picture Plan. You can find out more about that here: https://www.i-architect.co.uk/bpp.html I recommend that you live in the property for at least 3-6 months before making alterations so that you make the right changes for you. Best wishes with your home designs! Jane award winning chartered architect eco-home and conservation area specialist www.i-architect.co.uk