Comfort height – a big deal

Lecico’s Adam Lay discusses what comfort height means and why it’s something to consider when planning a bathroom refurbishment Comfort height is a buzzword that anyone shopping for a new toilet will probably hear, be it in a showroom or... View Article

The importance of boiler protection

Craig Mitchell of Sentinel discusses working with ALMO, St Leger Homes, to demonstrate how social housing providers can improve resident satisfaction while improving the performance of heating systems across their housing stock Customer satisfaction is a key priority for social... View Article

Brexit and beyond

John Whalley, Managing Director of Nationwide Windows & Doors, leading fenestration partner to social housing landlords, looks at how RSLs and property managers can try to mitigate at least some of the uncertainties surrounding Brexit At the time of writing,... View Article

Using data to boost building safety post-Grenfell

By Nicola Brown, Director of housing technology solutions provider ROCC In our lives, it seems we are inundated with a deluge of data. In housing, we have been conscious for some time now of Big Data sets, with software providers... View Article

Door closers create safer homes

With fire safety high on the agenda, Dr Lloyd Blewett of Samuel Heath investigates the potential of door closers for social housing The tragic events of last year have, understandably, brought the fire safety spotlight on to the social housing... View Article

Our electric future

Paul Hutchens is CEO of Midlands-based solar specialists, Eco2Solar. He is a board member of the Solar Trade Association (STA), the UK’s leading solar industry voice, and Chairman of the STA’s New Build Working Group which aims to inform governments,... View Article

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. Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) and Helena Partnerships were brought... 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

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