Latest articles by Joseph Mullane
Could community solar panels save Brits from rising energy prices?
Solar power schemes nationwide could cut bills, increase energy independence and help communities share the benefits of clean energy, but barriers remain to widespread adoption
Are mortgages going down in 2026? What homeowners need to know
Mortgage rates are falling at the start of 2026, giving buyers and remortgagers a chance to secure historically low deals before rates rise again
Steve Backshall and Helen Glover reveal ferocious Storm Goretti damage to Lands’ End home
Steve Backshall and Olympian Helen Glover claim their Cornwall home was battered by Storm Goretti amid widespread UK storm damage
King Charles plans £6.5m sustainable extension at Dumfries House
Dumfries House faces major architectural changes as royal charity seeks planning and listed building consent for a sustainable east wing extension
The Warm Homes Plan is coming soon: Find out how much you could get in Government funding
The Warm Homes Plan could bring grants, heat pumps, and energy-saving upgrades to millions of homes in early 2026
Homes at imminent risk on 'one of the fastest' eroding coastlines in Northern Europe
Great Yarmouth Borough Council says 14 Hemsby homes are at risk of imminent collapse amid Storm Goretti and severe erosion
Martin Lewis reveals how you can get a £6000 council tax refund
Martin Lewis reveals how savers have unlocked up to £6,000 in council tax refunds, and explains on his latest podcast and TV show how you can try it too
When and how you could soon claim Cold Weather Payments worth up to £25 a week
Freezing temperatures could unlock automatic £25 payments for eligible homeowners this winter
Mansion Tax raises fears over publicly identifying high-value homes for burglars
Warnings emerge that the new Mansion Tax could expose high-value homes to burglars by making property valuations and addresses more easily accessible
These planning reforms are coming in 2026
The government has proposed a raft of new planning reforms — here's what self builders and renovators need to know
How to turn your Christmas tree into firewood in three easy steps
Your Christmas tree doesn't just have to be for one day of the year, so rather than sending it to the tip, reuse it and keep your home warm at the same time
Heatmap shows this area to be largest Japanese Knotweed hotspot in the UK
One English city was shown to have the highest recordings of Japanese Knotweed in 2025, with the highest risk areas all having one thing in common
Planning and Infrastructure Bill becomes law, so will this make self-building easier?
The government’s Planning and Infrastructure Act introduces reforms aimed at reducing delays, lowering costs, and providing clearer pathways for self-builders and small housing projects
Stonemason’s death sparks renewed calls to ban artificial stone kitchen worktops
The death of a UK stonemason has intensified calls for stronger protections and a potential ban on high-silica engineered stone used in kitchens
£1,000 reward offered after 20ft metal gates stolen from property
Police are investigating theft as the homeowner offers a reward for the missing gates
Warm Homes Plan delayed, leaving millions of homeowners in the cold
The UK government’s £15bn scheme to improve home energy efficiency will not be published until January, leaving households unsure about support for insulation, heating, and ventilation upgrades
Swift bricks for all new homes: What the latest UK planning policy really means for builders
Government planning policy now expects bird‑nesting features like swift bricks in all new homes, but this is still policy guidance, not a statutory building regulation
'Biggest rewrite of planning rules in over a decade' proposed by government to meet 1.5m homes target
Government consults on largest overhaul of planning rules in decades to increase housing supply and speed up homebuilding
New feature lets UK homebuyers find homes with zero energy bills
Rightmove and Octopus Energy partner to highlight homes with heat pumps, solar panels, and smart tech that could slash household energy costs
Well-installed heat pumps cut energy bills by over £200 a year, UK study finds
Real-world data from hundreds of UK homes shows efficient heat pumps outperform gas boilers on cost and comfort
Amanda Byram posts video showing off her huge skylights and microcement bathroom in her renovation project
Byram’s renovation reveals how thoughtful rooflight choices can brighten every corner of a home, giving renovators fresh ideas for maximising natural light
UK households warned 85,000 tumble dryers could catch fire
Households with Haier and partner-brand dryers must stop using their machines and arrange urgent safety repairs
How a tiny Hebridean stonehouse became Grand Designs House of the Year
A hand-built island home crafted from ancient Lewisian gneiss has stunned judges to win Grand Designs House of the Year, proving small, sustainable design can outshine big-budget builds
