u/not_who_you_think_99

For anyone using an air to air heat pump (ie air conditioning) for winter heating: please share your experience!

• How do you find it?
• What do you like / dislike?
• How do you find it vs gas boiler + radiators?
• Are you saving money vs radiators?

If I understand correctly, in theory they are more efficient than radiators. However:

1. On one hand they heat a room quickly. So you might need to start the radiators 30-45 mins before you go down the kitchen to have breakfast, but with A2A you can turn them on straight away
2. On the other hand, radiators stay hot for a while after you turn them off, whereas a room can go cold more quickly after you turn off a2a. Eg do you keep a2a on all night in the bedrooms?

So it's not clear to me how the two compensate.

I am thinking of a Victorian house, which has double glazing but is not as airtight or insulated as some newbuilds. And there's no external wall insulation.

Thanks!

You're welcome not to believe me, but I overheard this conversation in an office lift: two cyclists were talking about e-bikes, and one said he was very happy with his Tern cargo e-bike.

He said something like: "and then I installed a metal cage at the back and that's where I put my kids, it's great"

Of course he meant he had installed two child seats with a metal frame around the seats.

But another guy walks into the lift, hears only the last bit, looks at him in disbelief and shouts: "you put your children in a metal cage?"

I have been comparing quotes to install a multisplit in a Victorian mid-terrace house with a side return (ie a small corridor in the garden, see below)

• ground floor: living room, kitchen
• first floor: 3 bedrooms

The quotes ranged from £10,800 to £20,000. I am based in the UK and can only install one external unit because of our questionable planning rules.

My questions are:

• they all agree I need 1.5 kW for the small bedrooms but they disagree on what I'd need for the larger bedroom and for the kitchen. Which combination of units makes more sense?
• For those in the UK (I get it that prices vary from country to country): how can quotes vary so much? I am comparing Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin, not Daikin vs Midea. Is the £10,800 too cheap? Is the £20k quote a rip off?

As for the number and power of the units:

The sizes of the rooms are:

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

https://preview.redd.it/lya05hv7juoh1.png?width=758&format=png&auto=webp&s=cdfb56902346faffe56c3f42352675b10b62b63a

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has told unions he will install air conditioning across all of Transport for London's bus network by 2027.

For Victorian houses converted into two flats, what leasehold arrangements are typical, what are less typical but would be ideal, and what would be a red flag to run away from?

Is it common for each of the two flats to have a share of freehold?

For the freehold to be owned by an external company which doesn't own any of the two leases?

Does there tend to be an external managing agent?

Is there a lot to manage, other than sorting out insurance?

If the two flats have a share of freehold, do the costs end up being the same as those of a freehold house of comparable age? I.e. you fix the roof as and when, but you won't get fleeced by an external managing agent?

Is it common to have a sinking fund?

For Victorian houses converted into two flats, what leasehold arrangements are typical, what are less typical but would be ideal, and what would be a red flag to run away from?

Is it common for each of the two flats to have a share of freehold?

For the freehold to be owned by an external company which doesn't own any of the two leases?

Does there tend to be an external managing agent?

Is there a lot to manage, other than sorting out insurance?

If the two flats have a share of freehold, do the costs end up being the same as those of a freehold house of comparable age? I.e. you fix the roof as and when, but you won't get fleeced by an external managing agent?

Is it common to have a sinking fund?

I am curious if you know of any specific university which is abandoning or reducing at-home coursework, and moving to an assessment based only or mostly on in-class exams, because nowadays everyone cheats with AI.

I understand there are some countries where most exams have always been oral, but that as its own problems, because oral exams can vary too much from person to person and be much less fair.

A system based only on in-class exams fells, honestly, much fairer.

Also archived at: https://archive.is/UZ8Ml (the archived link is not paywalled, even if artificial stupidity fails to understand it)

From the article:

the building’s managers stopped food delivery drivers from entering the building and limited guests to staying no longer than 14 days in a 90-day period.

Rubbish could only be placed in the building’s chutes before 5pm, when tenants were often at work. The pool had to be booked and was often unavailable.

the building told tenants in March it would charge £60 a month for internet use.

A tenant who sent multiple emails outlining residents’ concerns was evicted shortly after, according to a notice seen by the FT.

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

full article:

When the first residents moved into a luxury apartment block near the Shard last summer, they were anticipating its amenities: a cinema, rooftop pool, orangery, gym and sauna.

What they were not expecting: all the rules for living there. Current and former tenants say that London’s Shard Place — where a one-bedroom flat costs £4,300 a month — has delivered on its promises of high-end finishes and “astonishing views”.

But they say they also assumed their money would buy greater convenience. Instead, the building’s managers stopped food delivery drivers from entering the building and limited guests to staying no longer than 14 days in a 90-day period.

Tenants also found themselves in disputes over the prices for internet access and charges for gym induction. “I feel like I am fighting about something new every week,” one tenant wrote in a text message last August, calling the state of affairs “so draining”.

In October, the same tenant wrote: “Why am I paying so much to feel like an imposition and not get services I get in comparable buildings.” The 27-storey tower had been hotly awaited. Located near the Shard in London Bridge, it was completed five years behind schedule and ran more than £200mn over budget, according to accounts filed with Companies House.

Like a small but growing minority of London housing, Shard Place is “build-to-rent”: none of its 176 flats is available for sale. Even in the tightly managed world of build-to-rent, its rules have made it an outlier. Some buildings have loosened their rules in the wake of the Renters’ Rights Act, such as no longer charging fees to have pets, said Karen Standing, who oversees the build-to-rent segment at estate agency Hamptons. Shard Place does not allow pets, except for guide dogs. Under the Renters’ Rights Act, the Labour government’s flagship effort to help renters, landlords cannot have a blanket ban on pets.

Shard Place was built by the same firm that constructed the Shard and the next-door News Building, and is managed by Qatari state-owned Real Estate Management (UK). This is the company’s first major foray into build-to-rent housing. Build-to-rent landlords say the arrangement offers benefits, including increased security. The trade-off, however, is less control.

Tenants began moving in June 2025. They could choose from light and dark colour palettes with pre-selected furniture. Shard Place pledged to make living in central London an “effortless experience”. Instead, almost immediately, tenants encountered snags. Rubbish could only be placed in the building’s chutes before 5pm, when tenants were often at work. The pool had to be booked and was often unavailable. Food-delivery drivers were barred from entering the building or leaving items with the concierge. Guests had to be fetched from reception and were not permitted to use the pool.

In contrast, Greystar, a landlord that owns nearly 22,000 build-to-rent properties across the UK, allows collection points for food deliveries and guests to use amenities, said a person familiar with the matter. For some Shard Place tenants, the most concerning restriction has been the limit on guests’ stays to 14 days in a three-month period without permission from management. The policy, which had not been outlined in the tenancy agreement, said “anyone staying beyond the permitted guest period may be considered as residing in the apartment and will require a Right to Rent check, in line with UK immigration law”, according to a copy reviewed by the FT.

Home Office guidance says house guests such as friends or family would not ordinarily be treated as occupiers for the purposes of such checks. “The landlord can only [limit guest stays] if the lease allows it, and it would be quite unusual,” said James Naylor, a solicitor specialising in property disputes. “I have very rarely seen leases that specified something like that in 25 years of practising law. I’m not aware of any statutory obligation or requirement that entitles them to do this.” Some Shard Place tenants had relatives visiting from abroad, who were helping to pay the rent.

These family members would not be able to pass a Right to Rent check, which requires permission to live in the UK. One tenant was advised to add their family members to their tenancy agreement, which they declined to do to avoid potential tax implications. In another instance, a tenant wanted a key card so their partner could enter the flat without them. Knight Frank, one of the estate agents responsible for letting the building, suggested adding the person to the lease. “But we had only been dating for four months,” the tenant told the FT. “It would have been crazy . . . We could break up tomorrow, and then what would I do if they had a right to reside here?” “Knight Frank wanted me to define the relationship faster than my partner did,” the tenant added. The tenant later moved out. Knight Frank declined to comment. Shard Place said: “Shard Place is one of London’s most desirable addresses, with the majority of our residents choosing to stay with us for the long term. “We will always put the safety, security, and comfort of our residents first, and we actively welcome feedback so that we can continue to offer and improve the premium service we provide to them.”

One resident, who liked the building’s proximity to London Bridge Underground station, moved in after leaving a build-to-rent place in Nottingham. Although she loves the building itself, she has been put off by various policies, including having to pay a one-time £50 fee to use the gym, which she says she had not been told about before signing her lease. Marketing materials seen by the FT do not mention the fee. “Why would I pay to use my residential gym? It just did not make sense to me. I got to talking to other tenants later on and it was a thing that we all bonded over,” she said. She was also flummoxed to be informed that she had exceeded her permitted use of the cinema. “I had never been told there was a certain amount of slots for the month,” she said. Not being able to take guests to the pool is “absolutely ridiculous. I can’t be paying that amount and you guys tell me how to run my apartment,” she said. She is planning to move out in October.

One issue that united residents earlier this year was internet access. After mistakenly charging some residents a lower fee, or in some cases nothing, the building told tenants in March it would charge £60 a month for internet use. Residents balked at the short notice, the inability to choose their own internet provider and the price. Average entry-level broadband prices in the UK are about £25 a month, according to Enders Analysis.

A tenant who sent multiple emails outlining residents’ concerns was evicted shortly after, according to a notice seen by the FT. “We are very sorry to hear reports . . . of how dissatisfied you are with our operational services, amenities, and third-party service providers . . .  “We feel that Shard Place is not the right property for your needs and we regrettably will not be inviting you to remain in Shard Place beyond the 12 months of your fixed term tenancy,” the notice read. “It is unfortunate that you have not enjoyed your time and Shard Place Apartments, and we hope that you find a property more suited to your needs.”

Many residents said the building’s staff were pleasant to deal with. The management has responded to some concerns. Residents can now drop off their rubbish 24 hours a day. The gym hours have been extended. Additional key cards have been dispensed for some guests.

The process, however, has left some luxury residents feeling powerless. Under build-to-rent, “I thought I’d be safer, but I had far less agency than I would have in a normal situation”, said one tenant. “I thought being across the table from a corporation would make things more professional but they had outsized bargaining power. It amplified bargaining inequality rather than producing better service.”

È possibile avere un conto corrente cointestato tra un residente in Italia e un residente all'estero?

O meglio: probabilmente non c'è nessuna legge che lo vieti esplicitamente, ma ci sono banche che lo offrono?

La situazione fiscale potrebbe diventare un casino, ma andrebbe benone anche un conto che non paga interessi (tanto quanti conti li pagano, ormai), e senza carte di credito né conto titoli collegato.

La motivazione è gestire le spese di un immobile che queste due persone hanno ereditato.

Banca Sella è tra le poche che offrono un conto espressamente per residenti all'estero, ma non offre un cointestato per situazioni del genere.

Fineco e Revolut non lo offrono (i correntisti devono essere residenti nello stesso paese).

Intesa e Unicredit boh: anche telefonando non mi hanno saputo dire se possono dare un conto a un non residente, figuriamoci un cointestato.

I understand that in Italy most employers tend to hire graduates who have completed both the 3-year degree and the 2-year one, and that those who only have the 3-year one are at a disadvantage.

Is this also true of international employers recruiting Bocconi graduates for roles outside of Italy?

For example, I have come across a few Bocconi graduates in London, and they all have the 3+2 degrees. What is odd is that the very same London-based employer hires English graduates with a 3-year degree, but seems to expect a 3+2 from Italian ones. Do you know if this is still the case?

Do you know people who applied for foreign roles with a 3-year Bocconi degree? Do employers or the university provide any official guidance on this? Or is it just one of those unwritten rules which no one will confirm in writing?

If it's still the case that Italian graduates need to study 2 years more than their English peers, this hugely increases the cost of a Bocconi degree (two more years of tuition fees + living costs in Milan)

Get a bottle with a cap that you screw and unscrew, and you'll be sure it will never leak.
But you cannot unscrew it and screw it with one hand only.

Bottle caps with a straw top that you fold flat (the first two examples below) or with a flip top (the third picture) can be operated with one hand. But how leakproof are they?

I have never tried Hydro Flask nor GSI, but I have tried other brands with the same tops, and they always leak. Toss the bottle in a bag where it won't stay flat, and it will always leak.

The best leakproof cap for one-handed use I have managed to find is the Kambukka Elton. But Kambukka insulated bottles are heavy.

What is the best leakproof design for one-hand use? Have you had good experience with the straw cap or flip cap of any specific brand?

I don't need to store hot liquids, nor carbonated drinks.

https://preview.redd.it/5ubpqa09hzjh1.png?width=1142&format=png&auto=webp&s=d42ac20ba5e88fcda9899e2884743052d352d085

Get a bottle with a cap that you screw and unscrew, and you'll be sure it will never leak.
But you cannot unscrew it and screw it with one hand only.

Bottle caps with a straw top that you fold flat (the first two examples below) or with a flip top (the third picture) can be operated with one hand. But how leakproof are they?

I have never tried Hydro Flask nor GSI, but I have tried other brands with the same tops, and they always leak. Toss the bottle in a bag where it won't stay flat, and it will always leak.

The best leakproof cap for one-handed use I have managed to find is the Kambukka Elton. But Kambukka insulated bottles are heavy.

What is the best leakproof design for one-hand use? Have you had good experience with the straw cap or flip cap of any specific brand?

I don't need to store hot liquids, nor carbonated drinks.

https://preview.redd.it/adqz06twgzjh1.png?width=1191&format=png&auto=webp&s=1dc73ecb1ee66bde79bfbdbd55ddbe723b29ec8b

Get a bottle with a cap that you screw and unscrew, and you'll be sure it will never leak.
But you cannot unscrew it and screw it with one hand only.

Bottle caps with a straw top that you fold flat (the first two examples below) or with a flip top (the third picture) can be operated with one hand. But how leakproof are they?

I have never tried Hydro Flask nor GSI, but I have tried other brands with the same tops, and they always leak. Toss the bottle in a bag where it won't stay flat, and it will always leak.

The best leakproof cap for one-handed use I have managed to find is the Kambukka Elton. But Kambukka insulated bottles are heavy.

What is the best leakproof design for one-hand use? Have you had good experience with the straw cap or flip cap of any specific brand?

I don't need to store hot liquids, nor carbonated drinks.

https://preview.redd.it/sbnmz2qoezjh1.png?width=1166&format=png&auto=webp&s=7fbbce37cf756be49ea29f30a6418dd41f5d18a7

Installing air conditioning (air source heat pumps which heat and cool) became permitted development only in May 2025.

My questions are:

• is it permitted development only if the installer certifies the MCS noise calculation?
• if the client does the noise calculation, is it not permitted development?
• what if an acoustic consultant does? Some acoustic consultants do a desktop calculation (based on the measurements you provide), while others require professional drawings, which causes the cost to skyrocket

The reason I ask is because it's impossible to find an installer that does this calculation (I have contacted 8). If I search the MCS website for installers, it tells me there are none certified for air-to-air heat pumps yet! More than 2 years after these rules became effective!

Suppose I do the calculation myself. Can the council really force me to remove it not because the calculation was wrong, but because it wasn't signed off by an installer?

If I get an acoustic consultant to do it, surely the council cannot object? Even if the MCS document mentions installers only, and not consultants?

The law

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-g-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-air-source-heat-pumps-on-domestic-premises

states that

Development is not permitted by Class G unless the air source heat pump complies with the MCS Planning Standards

MCS publishes the noise calculation methodology here https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCS-020-a-Issue-1.0-Final.pdf and the spreadsheet for the actual calculation here: https://mcscertified.com/?standard=mcs-020-a-calculation-tool

This MCS consultation document states that https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MCS-020-Consultation-Response-Final.pdf

For installations without an MCS certificate, Planning Authorities will need to consider how to enforce claims of compliance to MCS 020 (a).

So is it basically left to the whims of each council?

The OP in this thread did the calculation himself, applied for a certificate of lawful development, and the council accepted it. I suppose each council will be different? https://www.reddit.com/r/ukheatpumps/comments/1msm5lu/lawful_development_for_air_to_air_heat_pump/

Installing air conditioning (air source heat pumps which heat and cool) became permitted development only in May 2025.

My questions are:

• is it permitted development only if the installer certifies the MCS noise calculation?
• if the client does the noise calculation, is it not permitted development?
• what if an acoustic consultant does? Some acoustic consultants do a desktop calculation (based on the measurements you provide), while others require professional drawings, which causes the cost to skyrocket

The reason I ask is because it's impossible to find an installer that does this calculation (I have contacted 8). If I search the MCS website for installers, it tells me there are none certified for air-to-air heat pumps yet! More than 2 years after these rules became effective!

Suppose I do the calculation myself. Can the council really force me to remove it not because the calculation was wrong, but because it wasn't signed off by an installer?

If I get an acoustic consultant to do it, surely the council cannot object? Even if the MCS document mentions installers only, and not consultants?

The law

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-g-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-air-source-heat-pumps-on-domestic-premises

states that

Development is not permitted by Class G unless the air source heat pump complies with the MCS Planning Standards

MCS publishes the noise calculation methodology here https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCS-020-a-Issue-1.0-Final.pdf and the spreadsheet for the actual calculation here: https://mcscertified.com/?standard=mcs-020-a-calculation-tool

This MCS consultation document states that https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MCS-020-Consultation-Response-Final.pdf

For installations without an MCS certificate, Planning Authorities will need to consider how to enforce claims of compliance to MCS 020 (a).

So is it basically left to the whims of each council?

The OP in this thread did the calculation himself, applied for a certificate of lawful development, and the council accepted it. I suppose each council will be different? https://www.reddit.com/r/ukheatpumps/comments/1msm5lu/lawful_development_for_air_to_air_heat_pump/

Installing air conditioning (air source heat pumps which heat and cool) became permitted development only in May 2025.

My questions are:

• is it permitted development only if the installer certifies the MCS noise calculation?
• if the client does the noise calculation, is it not permitted development?
• what if an acoustic consultant does? Some acoustic consultants do a desktop calculation (based on the measurements you provide), while others require professional drawings, which causes the cost to skyrocket

The reason I ask is because it's impossible to find an installer that does this calculation (I have contacted 8). If I search the MCS website for installers, it tells me there are none certified for air-to-air heat pumps yet! More than 2 years after these rules became effective!

Suppose I do the calculation myself. Can the council really force me to remove it not because the calculation was wrong, but because it wasn't signed off by an installer?

If I get an acoustic consultant to do it, surely the council cannot object? Even if the MCS document mentions installers only, and not consultants?

The law

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-g-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-air-source-heat-pumps-on-domestic-premises

states that

Development is not permitted by Class G unless the air source heat pump complies with the MCS Planning Standards

MCS publishes the noise calculation methodology here https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCS-020-a-Issue-1.0-Final.pdf and the spreadsheet for the actual calculation here: https://mcscertified.com/?standard=mcs-020-a-calculation-tool

This MCS consultation document states that https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MCS-020-Consultation-Response-Final.pdf

For installations without an MCS certificate, Planning Authorities will need to consider how to enforce claims of compliance to MCS 020 (a).

So is it basically left to the whims of each council?

The OP in this thread did the calculation himself, applied for a certificate of lawful development, and the council accepted it. I suppose each council will be different? https://www.reddit.com/r/ukheatpumps/comments/1msm5lu/lawful_development_for_air_to_air_heat_pump/

La situazione

Un parente anziano e abbastanza tecnofobo / analfabeta informatico (non ha nemmeno un indirizzo email) mi ha chiesto se ci sono banche dove si possano comprare BOT allo sportello, senza operare on line. O all'emissione o sul mercato secondario.

Questa persona ha ereditato una cifra che vuole investire a breve, un po' per l'età che ha, un po' perché tra 1-3 anni ne avrà bisogno per ristrutturare un immobile.

Opzione ideale

Il parente vorrebbe poter andare allo sportello, dire: compro questo BOT, e comprarlo, senza operare online. Ci sono banche che lo fanno? Anche se le commissioni sono più alte. Senza passare per consulenti o promotori finanziari

Opzione alternativa

L'opzione alternativa potrebbe essere aprire un conto online e dare al figlio la delega per operare.

Ci sono banche o broker che lo fanno? Mi pare Fineco? Directa? Ve ne vengono in mente altri? Deve essere in regime amministrato, quindi Interactive Brokers non va bene.

Da evitare

Non vuole consulenti finanziari e non vuole conti cointestati

Qualunque suggerimento sarà benvenuto. Grazie!