Q&As

I’m planning for a major renovation of my converted barn home. I intend to add a ground source heat pump but can’t find information about whether this system can supply domestic hot water. If it can be supplied by the same system, is this an efficient way of achieving a hot water supply? And would [...]

If I get planning permission for houses on part of my garden which is my main residence, do I pay CGT on the building plot if I stay living in my house? Or if I sell the house with the building plots together? Advice appreciated. Thanks

Hi I am looking for advice, really. I should say first I love you magazine – buy every copy and been to 5 of your shows and was blown away by them. I have a budget of about £200,000 at the most and my job is furniture designer and I so want a house that [...]

We have lovely Nordan windows and doors in our self build. Unfortunately I smashed half of the sliding doors (accidentally reversed into it but still not broken through-they are so tough!) My question is does anyone know what home insurer will cover the cost fully? My current insurer is Royal Sun Alliance and they say [...]

There is a property which I am very interested which has a small coal bunker (around 1.5 m x 1.5 m x 1.5 m) built in to the house, with access from the garden. This space is now not in use, but takes up a considerable amount of space into the kitchen. Would it be [...]

Have you run an article on raft versus strip foundations for a house extension?

Hi, I’m looking to build a double garage 5.6m wide by 5.3m deep. I am reusing some timber roof trusses; so I will need to span a purlin with a width of 5.6m on which to rest the 4.2m long roof trusses.The trusses are 38 degrees in pitch and from the internal span beam, the [...]

Hi. I’m sure this has been asked many times. What is a good site to look for land that has potential for planning, thus making it reasonably priced to buy? As opposed to land with planning permission. Thank you

Hi, I’m just planning to start a self-build project and would like to use an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP), rather than a gas boiler for heating. Do I need to obtain additional planning permission for this, or do we automatically get permission, providing it meets the criteria set out under permitted planning development, even [...]