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

The go-to guide for natural stone paving

One of the UK’s leading independent natural stone suppliers Natural Paving Products (UK) Ltd has created a highly detailed resource for merchants, specifiers, homeowners and installers wanting to know more about natural stone paving including technical information, laying guides, aftercare and... View Article

GGF looks forward to Materials 2017 exhibition

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is excited to announce it is an official event partner for Materials 2017, a brand new conference and exhibition focused entirely on cutting edge material solutions for architecture, construction and design. A wide range... View Article

Materials 2017 Podcast #1

The first installment in the podcast press release series for Materials 2017 – the new conference and exhibition focused entirely on materials for architecture, construction, and design – produced by media partner BusinessNet... View Article

A new dawn: Lambeth Borough Council

Lambeth Council delivered its first directly developed scheme in a decade – including the complex conversion of a heritage building into six social housing flats, writes Teodora Lyubomirova. At first sight, there’s nothing unusual at the corner of the busy... View Article

Refurb to reinvigorate

Updating a bathroom is no easy undertaking, but Chris Tranter of Bristan offers advice on how to tick all the boxes. When it comes to refurbishing social housing, there are several considerations to bear in mind. While the updates should... View Article

Relieving the pressure

Stuart Pearce of GeoSmart Information explains how SuDS can help mitigate the flood risk. Improving the country’s resilience to flooding is driving the need for a new approach to managing surface water runoff. Existing drainage systems and sewers have a... View Article

A network of opportunities

District heating schemes have gained popularity across Europe, but the UK is still trailing in the adoption of this energy-efficient heating method. Louise Howlett of RA Brown explains the benefits. While district heating is widely adopted in Northern Europe, it... View Article

Ready for a climate change

A regeneration charity has gone the extra mile by climate-proofing the external spaces at several social housing estates. Hannah Baker reports. Scientists predict that climate change is likely to bring more extreme weather events to the UK, significantly increasing the... View Article

View from the top

Allan Frizzell of roofing specialists Topseal looks at how innovation in roof coverings has taken the hassle out of flat roof maintenance. Flat roofs have a long history in the UK, and their benefits in terms of affordability and ease... View Article

Locking crime out

Robust door-access control is key to a safer community. Tim Rogers of security specialists Key Management Systems reveals the options. In a world where population numbers are rising rapidly and social pressures change by the day, concerns over personal security... View Article

PVC-U: A strong investment

Quality windows and doors must provide not only safety, but also comfort and adequate thermal performance. Andrew Reid of Profile 22 explores the solutions. Social landlords can get caught up in a perfect storm when looking to carry out maintenance... View Article