Latest articles by Sam Webb
Government invests £7.6m into UK timber for British homebuilding
The government aims to increase the number of homes made from timber with only 9% of England's made from timber compared to 92% in Scotland
What is the cheapest heater to run? We take a look at the options
Heating costs tend to vary according to the power used by different types of heater.But which might be the cheapest to run? Here we compare heater types
Squatter renovates and sells home for £540,000 after successful adverse possession claim
The squatter gained possession of the house after applying for 'adverse possession' and spent £150,000 renovating it before putting it on the market
Self builder ordered to demolish £500k passivhaus built without permission
The building has angered some locals who claim it is an eyesore that illuminates the skyline at night
How this 'riad style' self build was praised for its unique 'greenhouse' look
The 'Green House' is a reimagination of a typical terraced house and replaced an existing property located down an alleyway
Self build plot next to Princess Anne’s royal estate goes on the market
You can buy a historic plot next to Princess Anne's estate that has planning permission to remove the existing building and replace it with a residential one
How to aerate a lawn — plus when you should do it
Aeration can improve surface drainage, soil structure, and helps grass grow. Here's our guide on how to do it
Government review into heat pump noise recommends lifting planning restrictions after finding 'low number of complaints'
The latest DEFRA review into heat pump noises found that residents who lived near a heat pump reported few complaints and recommended removing the one-metre rule for heat pumps
Why is my rainwater soakaway overflowing? Plus — how to unblock it
Soakaway overflowing can arise if the surface water drainage on your property is ineffective
Heat pump applications triple after government grants increase to £7,500
The UK Government claims the scheme is now one of the most generous of its kind in Europe
Man fined £9k for felling three apple trees without permission because ‘his dog kept getting sick’
The homeowner failed to gain permission to remove the historic trees that were protected due to being in a conservation area
Man, 88, who knocked down wall he built in the 70s threatened with prison after removing part of it without consent
Ron Knight has vowed to “die in prison” rather than pay £3,200 in fines he received after knocking down a boundary wall
UK’s first high-temperature air source heat pumps to heat 497 homes
Leeds City Council aims to reduce residents' bills and slash carbon emissions by installing high-temperature air source heat pumps in council-owned buildings
Builder ordered to pay £4k compensation over fire door installation in loft conversion
Ross Stephen Trutch's company was hit with £6,000 in compensation and costs due to incorrectly installed fire doors
How much does a French drain cost to install?
French drains are a surprisingly simple DIY job yet can have a significant effect on your property's flood resilience
Standing charges on energy bills under review amid anger at doubling in last year
Standing charges have increased by over 65% since April 2019, leaving many families struggling to heat their homes
Bike shed outside listed building ordered to be removed by council
The small shed is outside a Grade II listed former workhouse in Shropshire
Row on Millionaire's Row as C4 star says neighbour's self build breaks planning rules
Celia Sawyer, who appeared in Channel 4’s Four Rooms, lives in a £4m home in the exclusive Sandbanks area of Poole
Waste heat from computer systems to be recycled and used to power British homes
Five projects will receive a share of nearly £65 million to deliver clean, low-cost heating
What is insulation board — and is it the best option for insulating my project?
Homebuilders and renovators have a regulatory obligation to insulate properties in the United Kingdom. But what is the best option when it comes to choosing your insulation type? We take a look at insulation board and assess the pros and cons
Hundreds of residents take to streets to stop telegraph poles being installed
The large protest comes amid calls to scrap automatic permitted development rights for telegraph poles, with locals calling it "vandalism" of the countryside
Villagers fight to restore historic thatched cottage built in under one night
The custom stated that if a squatter could build a house on common land between dusk and dawn, then the occupier could lay claim to it
Council rejects application to turn mobile home into permanent residence
The applicant argued the existing mobile home should be allowed to become a permanent accommodation and that converting mobile homes could provide a solution to the housing crisis
