Latest articles by Joseph Mullane
Millions of historic homes 'risk falling into disuse' as calls grow for automatic planning consent
Warning that outdated heritage planning rules are stalling energy upgrades to listed buildings, putting historic homes at risk of becoming cold, costly and uninhabitable
IKEA’s new smart home range makes upgrading your home easier than ever
With 21 new Matter-compatible products, IKEA is expanding how homeowners can integrate smart lighting, sensors and controls into everyday living
Why your home extension could cost more under proposed architect rule
Labour is considering plans that would make hiring a qualified architect mandatory for home extensions – a move critics warn could increase costs and bureaucracy for homeowners
Energy suppliers to be held accountable for faulty and delayed smart meter installations
Customers could receive £40 compensation for delayed installations, failed appointments or unresolved smart meter faults
Feed-in Tariffs: How 800,000 households with solar panels may earn less due to payments change
Solar households will still see payments rise each year, but at a slower rate, after the Government confirmed changes to how Feed-in Tariff payments are linked to inflation
Man who turned £500 boat into his home awaits planning decision
A Worcestershire dad transforms a £500 boat into an off-grid riverside home, while awaiting council approval to see if it qualifies as a legal residence
Man who claimed planning permission laws did not apply to him jailed for 12 months
Cheshire East Council took action after the homeowner had repeated breaches and ignored numerous court orders to remove two homes he built
Water bills rising by £33 a year, but could your home qualify you for a discount?
Household water bills in England and Wales are set to rise by an average of £33 a year from April, but millions of households could be eligible for discounted bills
The hidden kitchen organisation features four in five homeowners are adding without you noticing
Task-specific built-ins and clever storage solutions are reshaping UK kitchens as functionality becomes a top priority
Monty Don’s garden floods again — but he finds an unexpected upside
Even as Storm Chandra hits Longmeadow, Monty Don finds calm and purpose in the soggy conditions
What to do if you haven’t received your Winter Fuel Payment — and when you need to claim it by
Most Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, but if yours hasn’t arrived, there are clear steps to take – and a deadline you need to be aware of
'Like running a bath without a plug': The flaw in the Government’s Warm Homes Plan
Before you claim your £7,500 grant, experts warn that the lack of insulation requirements in the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme could leave your home cold and your bills high
Insulation scheme turns into financial timebomb for thousands of households
Households risk huge repair bills as government insulation schemes have been branded a “catastrophic fiasco”
What to check if you’re buying a house with oil central heating
Considering a home heated by oil? Here’s what to look out for before you commit to a purchase
How nutrient neutrality rules have halted 3,600 housing projects in Cumbria
New rules to limit phosphorus in rivers and lakes are delaying planning decisions and leaving thousands of homes and development projects in limbo across Cumbria
Martin Lewis reveals the types of home renovations that could save you £1,000s in council tax
Major home renovations could qualify for up to 12 months of council tax exemption, potentially saving homeowners £1,000s while properties are uninhabitable
Could this Buckinghamshire barn become the rural home you’ve been looking for?
With full planning permission for a three-bedroom conversion, private parking, garden space and an optional outbuilding, this Oakley barn offers a rare chance to create a family home in the countryside
Families could get £12,000 of solar panels for free under new government plan
Eligible households could receive fully funded solar panels and home batteries worth up to £12,000, as the government rolls out its largest clean energy home upgrade programme
£125m in household savings and fewer water disruptions promised under new water reforms
Government unveils once-in-a-generation overhaul to UK water, promising improved reliability, long-term household savings and smarter infrastructure management
David and Victoria Beckham get green light for new driveway at their £12m estate
Planning approval granted for a new private access road as part of the Beckhams’ wider property upgrades
House prices are rising – but could inflation stop the momentum?
House prices rise toward the end of 2025, but cost pressures from inflation add a new challenge for the market
How to get two free tickets to the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show
Get two free tickets to the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show
Is building new homes still worth it? National developer warns demand is ‘muted’
Taylor Wimpey flags weak buyer interest and a margin squeeze in 2026, underscoring wider housing market challenges
