Landlords – The 2020 deadline is looming

From April 2018, it became unlawful for landlords of privately rented properties (both domestic and non-domestic) in England and Wales to grant a new tenancy to a new or existing tenant on a property with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)... View Article

International architecture practice BDP opens Leeds studio

Major international interdisciplinary architecture and engineering practice, BDP, has announced the opening of a new studio in Leeds following the delivery of a series of successful high-profile projects in the city. The studio will be led by Architect Associate, Vicky... View Article

Stay put policy being reviewed after heavy criticism

One of the most significant outcomes of the Grenfell Tower inquiry phase one report has been the chairman’s demand to end the automatic ‘stay put’ policy for all high-rise blocks. Sir Martin Moore-Bick told Ministers to develop national guidelines for... View Article

Government adviser to new Building Safety Regulator named

Dame Judith Hackitt will provide independent advice to the Government on how best to establish the powerful new Building Safety Regulator and avoid a similar disaster as the Grenfell Tower fire. The appointment follows Dame Judith’s Independent Review of Building... View Article

Biggest council landlord warns of possible repair cutbacks

The country’s biggest local authority landlord has warned that an estimated £93 million bill for fire safety works will force it to cut spending on repairs and maintenance work to its housing stock. Birmingham City Council owns around 62,000 homes,... View Article

Lead by the landscape

Over 100 new apartments are in the works in the Surrey town of Oxted, offering countryside living within commuting distance of the capital. Alison Dowsett, managing director of St William Homes, explains how the team utilised a design concept that... View Article

Regulations affecting private landlords up by a third

The number of laws creating an obligation on private landlords has increased by 32 per cent since 2010 according to new analysis undertaken by a leading landlords organisation. The Residential Landlords Association claims the total number of regulations affecting landlords... View Article

Extra funds to help councils crack down on criminal landlords

The Government has made an additional £3.8 million available for councils to tackle criminal landlords in the remainder of the current financial year. The money is to support projects which take effective and targeted action against criminal landlords, support good... View Article