Don’t be an amateur

Surface preparation is critical in the restoration of a floor and mistakes at this stage can have catastrophic consequences for the finished result. Here Scott Coffey, regional sales manager at surface preparation expert National Flooring Equipment, explains how to choose... View Article

Engineering student safety

At a time when the volume of university students continues to rise across Europe, there is great commercial opportunity in the provision of housing to the growing demographic. But with great opportunity comes even greater responsibility. Heriberto Cuanalo of Collegiate... View Article

Give-and-take

Andy Fell of Hambleside Danelaw summarises the pros and cons of different flat and low-pitched roofing membranes. Housing maintenance is a demanding task, with cost, performance, lifespan, ease of installation and maintenance being the main governing factors. ‘Traditional’ roofing systems... View Article

A natural approach to thermal comfort in social housing

Fintan Wallace from Ecological Building Systems discusses the importance of an airtight and windtight building envelope and the natural insulation solutions that can help reduce heating bills and improve comfort for social housing tenants. The cost of heating a home... View Article

Funded solutions

Simon Lomax of Kensa Heat Pumps explores innovative ways to access funding streams for heating and renewable energy installations. Many in the ground source heat pump (GSHP) industry are encouraged by the proposed refinements outlined in the Government’s 2016 response... View Article

A tale of two housing associations

Joining two existing Registered Providers (RPs) together is exciting. However, realising the benefit of a merger can be tricky, particularly if both organisations have a very different approach and culture. RPs Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) and Helena Partnerships were... View Article

Next generation coatings and paints

Mike Turner of Ian Williams looks at some of the latest trends in coatings and paint products. Over the decades, formulations and applications have changed significantly and paint continues to be a dynamic sector, contributing heavily to the sustainability, aesthetics,... View Article

Combining dry screed with underfloor heating in retrofits

Incorporating screedboard and underfloor heating in your home can provide acoustic and thermal benefits. Janeeth Devgun of CCF, offers expert insight. Landlords and facility managers are increasingly looking to install flooring solutions that are not just easy to install and maintain,... View Article

Don’t save it for a rainy day

Marley Alutec’s Tony Wereszczynski explains why landlords shouldn’t waste time when choosing rainwater and eaves systems and discusses the new industry standard relevant to the sector and the most recent technical advancements and trends in rainwater products. Specifying rainwater and... View Article

Guarantee your rent

Collecting rent on time is essential for a successful landlord. On behalf of Just Landlords, Rose Jinks explains the benefits of rent guarantee insurance. It’s no secret that a standard home insurance doesn’t offer loss or damage protection to properties... View Article

Adapting for the future: bathroom refurbishment

Antony Newton of refurbishment specialist J Tomlinson addresses the implications a rising elderly population has on bathroom refurbishments and adaptations in the rental sector. Projections show that society will age significantly over the upcoming decades. The number of people aged... View Article
smoke alarms

No smoke without fire

Martyn Walley of Aico looks at the benefits of interconnecting domestic smoke alarms with third-party safety systems and how best to achieve this. Domestic smoke alarm systems used to be pretty much selfcontained affairs – you couldn’t add accessories to... View Article

Eliminating bad air

John Moss of EnviroVent looks at how housing providers can ensure a better level of indoor air quality in their residents’ homes. Dealing with issues caused by condensation and mould growth is a persistent problem for housing maintenance teams. As... View Article

The case for furnished tenancies

Prevalent in the PRS, furnished tenancies remain scarce in social housing despite millions of tenants facing poverty. Helen Campbell of FRC Group explains why landlords must change their ways. Furniture poverty is on the rise and thousands of families and... View Article

High voltage

While gas and fire safety requirements have become paramount across the PRS, the emphasis on electrical protection is yet to catch up. Phil Buckle, of charity Electrical Safety First, explains how this is changing. For almost 20 years, landlords have... View Article

Leaning on innovation

Effi Wolff of Balcony Systems Solutions offers essential safety and maintenance tips on balconies and advises on new cost-saving solutions. Around seven per cent of properties in the UK feature some kind of balcony, but for new developments in urban... View Article