Bailiffs ordered to halt evictions in lockdown areas

Court approved evictions will not be taking place in large parts of England after bailiffs were told to not enter residential properties in areas covered by COVID-19 restrictions. Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland has written to the High Court Enforcement Officers... View Article

Court reform is vital before Section 21 is axed

One of the most controversial grounds for private landlords to recover possession of their rental properties is under threat from planned Government reforms, but landlords are demanding compensatory safeguards. The Lettings Industry Council is saying that Section 21 should not... View Article

Landlords confidence levels falling during Covid pandemic

Almost two thirds of private landlords in England and Wales expect their rental business to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic according to new research. The latest survey of just over 2,000 members of the National Residential Landlords Association... View Article

Clarion reports flat operating surplus in spite of pandemic

Britain’s largest housing association has reported a marginal increase in its operating surplus during the first six months of 2020/21 despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus health crisis. Clarion Housing Group has 350,000 tenants living in its 125,000 homes.... View Article

Remote management: sensible or intrusive?

Terri Hickman of Intergas Boilers discusses the pros and cons of remote management in the Covid-19 era. Working from home, such an alien concept at the start of lockdown, is now a much-loved (or tolerated, depending on your point of... View Article

Balcony fire safety

Richard Izzard of AliDeck explores the prevalence and causes of balcony fires. Following the Grenfell tragedy, various building regulation updates and Government initiatives have attempted to resolve the flammable cladding issue by outlawing combustible materials and mandating its replacement in... View Article

How to deliver on flat roof refurbishment projects

Clients are constantly trying to make the smartest investment, presenting surveyors with the challenge of delivering predictable project costs and providing precise technical data to enable clients to make the correct decision. Bauder explores how to deliver cost certainty and... View Article

Clarity on composite fire and security doors

Chris Flaherty of Winkhaus UK provides clarity for specifiers following a series of legislation and guidance updates covering the specification of composite fire doors. There is a lot of confusion and frustration among specifiers as to what is required and... View Article

What is IAQ and how do we measure it?

Vince House of Aereco explores what indoor air quality (IAQ) really means as residents are confined to their homes more than ever. There has been a lot of talk around Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), especially during the pandemic, but what... View Article

Steel windows’ split personality

Darren Lloyd of the Steel Window Association looks ahead at how the separate properties inherent to steel windows help them take key new roles beyond the pandemic The terms ‘heritage,’ ‘high performance’ or even ‘futuristic’ are all applicable to the... View Article

A new tradition

A new home in a secluded corner of Hampshire combines a highly contemporary form with traditional vernacular touches. James Parker speaks to one of the two architectural practices involved who managed to provide a design that worked for client and... View Article

Ask The Architect: Aqua Architecture

Alia Beyg of Aqua Architecture answers ADF’s questions on running a ‘niche’ practice, and what the future might hold for her firm Why did you become an Architect? From a young age I loved to draw, and I became fascinated... View Article

An introduction to standing seam roofing design

Standing seam roofs are a popular choice with architects and specifiers looking for a design that really stands out. Simon Walker of SIG Zinc & Copper discusses what architects and specifiers should consider when designing standing seam roofing Traditional standing... View Article

Practice Profile: HLM Architects

James Parker speaks to HLM’s chairman Richard O’Neil to find out how 2020’s Architectural Practice of the Year has maintained a keen focus on ‘social architecture’ over nearly six decades, while continuing to broaden its horizons HLM is a longstanding... View Article

Sustainability defined

With increasing pressure to specify building systems offering clearly defined sustainability, Andrew Cross of Kestrel Aluminium Systems gives his thoughts on the use of aluminium as a key building component In construction terms, aluminium is considered to be a ‘permanent’... View Article

Secure in the knowledge

Stuart Glen of Jacksons Fencing discusses the considerations that need to be taken into account when specifying security fencing Specifying fencing for safety and security purposes requires careful consideration of key components that will ultimately determine whether the chosen solution... View Article

Copper – the inside story

Graeme Bell of Aurubis says that copper has a wide range of uses in architectural interiors alongside external applications, and explores the various surface treatments available Copper has seen a dramatic change from its historic role in roofing prestigious buildings... View Article