Controversy over plans to demolish Grenfell Tower

Government plans to demolish Grenfell Tower have been rejected by former tenants and the relatives of residents who lost their lives in the fire, who are putting forward their own plans to turn the building into a “vertical forest”. A... View Article

Allowing more pets in lets

Less than one in ten of private rentals are pet-friendly properties but a new survey from Direct Line has shown that nearly half of landlords back the Government changes to allow ‘well-behaved’ pets in rental flats and houses. A new... View Article

Lukewarm response given to Queens Speech by CIH

The main professional body for those working in the social housing sector has given a mixed response to the Government’s planned legislation programme for the next Parliamentary session. In a briefing to its members the Chartered Institute of Housing said:... View Article

SterlingOSB Zero makes walls strong and sustainable

Many materials can be used to form walls and partitions but, when it comes to choosing a versatile, cost-effective and sustainable option, West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero is a winner. Ubiquitous on many construction sites and used in agricultural and portable buildings, the... View Article

The benefits and drawbacks of investing in HMOs

Over the last 10-15 years, the UK private rental and HMO (houses in multiple occupation) sectors have grown strongly. From student accommodation to shared housing, HMOs are an attractive option for investors and landlords, but they don’t come without some... View Article

Permanence and sustainability

Among the many benefits aluminium has to offer, Andrew Cross of Kestrel Aluminium discusses its ability to forecast the cost of maintenance over a system’s design life. With increasing pressure to specify building systems offering clearly defined sustainability, the use... View Article