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There is worrying evidence of potential mis-selling and unfair contract terms in the leasing household sector, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which could impact those trying to improve their homes.

The CMA is planning to launch enforcement action against companies deemed to have misled and taken advantage of people who buy leasehold properties.

Leaseholders in England and Wales do not own the land the property is built on, and rent the property from the freeholder. This makes carrying out home improvements such as buiilding an extension or knocking down internal walls more difficult as leaseholders are required to obtain prior permission from the freeholder.

As part of an investigation into the leasehold industry, the CMA reports that people are being charged excessive and disproportionate permission fees for home improvements. Contesting these charges can be costly and, as such, very few people decide to go through with it. 

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: “We have found worrying evidence that people who buy leasehold properties are being misled and taken advantage of.

“Buying a home is one of the most important and expensive investments you can make, and once you’re living there you want to feel secure and happy. But for thousands of leasehold homeowners, this is not the case.”

Concerning Findings for Home Improvers

The CMA also identified that homeowners have been misled about the price of converting their leasehold to freehold ownership. Some are initially told this would cost a small sum, only for it to be increased by up to thousands of pounds later in the process without sufficient warning.

Moreover, some buyers are reportedly not told upfront that a property is leasehold, and do not understand what this means. Developers fail to explain the fees the homeowners need to pay and when. Having signed signed a contract the leaseholders are therefore unable to pull out of the purchase, and can find themselves struggling to sell their home and trapped in the contract.

The findings are very concerning for those planning to renovate, extend or in other ways improve their leasehold home, but the CMA’s investigation could lead to legal action which impacts the leasehold sector. 

If the CMA finds that any companies have broken consumer law then it could lead to firms signing legal commitments to change how they operate. The CMA could also take firms to court to enforce their compliance with the law. 

The CMA says it is also developing advice for people who own, or plan to own leasehold properties, with tips on how to proceed with renovating a house and or adding an extension, as well as what they should do with permission fees they consider unreasonable. 

Foundation systems and soil types go hand-in-hand as the type of soil you encounter on your plot will inform the best foundation system for you to use for your project.

Neglecting to investigate the ground conditions on your site is one of the earliest and costly mistakes a self builder can make.

If you haven’t yet purchased your plot, take a look at this building plot checklist to make sure you exercise due diligence regarding various factors (including soil type) as best you can before committing to a purchase.

You can either check with your local authority or building inspector, or undertake a soil investigation. A soil investigation could cost as little as £500, but would flag any major issues before you start, which could save you £1,000s.

It is always a good idea to allocate at least 10% of your budget for a contingency fund should you encounter any unforeseen issues with your soil type.

Here, we explain the soil types you might encounter and the foundation system you should choose.

Ready to start laying out? Check out this step-by-step guide to building foundations.

What Soil Types Might I Find on my Plot?

If you don’t already know the soil type of your plot, a good starting point is to call your local authority Building Control department. They can give you an idea of the typical soil type in the area you are building, and the sort of foundation that is appropriate.

Most local authorities produce a fact sheet on typical foundation solutions for different soil types commonly found in the area.

Another useful source of information is the Building Regulations Approved Document A: 2004 which lists seven types of soil plus subsoil conditions and practical field tests to help you identify soil type.

Rock

Includes:

• limestone
• granite
• sandstone
• shale
• hard solid chalk

These rocks have a high bearing capacity. The rock may simply need to be stripped back and levelled off to build from.

Rock can be impervious, so topsoil is likely to require drainage as it is not possible to build soakaways to dispose of rainwater or surface water. Off-mains drainage options will also be very limited.

Chalk

Providing the chalk is not too soft, widths of 450mm for low-rise buildings are generally acceptable. The depth of the foundation must be below any frost action (700mm). If the chalk is soft it will need to be excavated until firm chalk is reached.

Chalk soils can be prone to erosion so be wary of hollows or caves.

Gravel and sand

Dry compact gravel, or gravel and sand subsoils are usually adequate for strip foundations. Generally a depth of 700mm is acceptable, as long as the ground has adequate bearing capacity.

If the water table is high (i.e. the gravel is submerged), the bearing capacity is halved, so it’s important to keep the foundations as high as possible. A shallow, reinforced, wide strip foundation may be suitable.

Sand holds together reasonably well when damp, compacted and uniform, but trenches may collapse and so sheet piling is often used to retain the ground in trenches until the concrete is poured.

Clay

The first 900-1,200mm layer of clay is subject to movement due to expansion and shrinkage depending on moisture content, so it is generally necessary to excavate foundations to a depth where the moisture content of the clay remains stable. British Standard 8004 recommends a minimum depth of 1m for foundations But if there are, or were, trees nearby, depths of up to 3m may be necessary.

In clay, prior to concreting the foundations, the trench is often protected from heave by lining it with a compressible layer (e.g. Clayboard).

Firm clay over soft clay

A traditional strip foundation is sometimes acceptable but it is important not to overdig as this may increase the stress on the softer clay beneath. A common solution is to dig wide strip foundations with steel reinforcement — however an engineered foundation may be necessary.

Peat

Peat and loose waterlogged sand are very poor subsoils. If the peat can be stripped back to find suitable load-bearing ground of at least 1.5m depth, strip foundations may be suitable. A reinforced raft foundation will likely be required.

Filled ground

Where ground has previously been excavated and filled, it is generally necessary to dig down to a level beneath the area of the fill.

Sloping sites

Sloping sites require stepped foundations. Guidelines are given in the Building Regulations.

Types of Foundation Systems

What are Strip Foundations?

The standard routine is to place as little solid concrete as possible into trenches and then to build up from this in blockwork until ground level, where the walls switch to brick or stone or whatever the chosen external cladding should be. This is known as a strip foundation.

For a single storey building strip foundations will typically be 450mm wide and at least 200mm deep, and for two storeys 600mm wide and 200mm deep.

Deep Strip Foundations: Where strip foundations need to be at a lower level to reach soil with suitable bearing capacity, a wider, deeper trench can be dug to work in, and the strip foundations dug and poured at a lower level. Walls are then built up to ground level in masonry.

Wide Strip Foundations: Where the soil is soft or of a low load-bearing capacity, wide strip foundations can be used to spread the load over a larger area, reinforced with steel so that the loading per m² is reduced.

What are Trenchfill Foundations?

A widely used alternative is the trenchfill foundation, where the trenches are filled with ready-mixed concrete to just below ground level. Steel reinforcement may be added in areas close to trees. While this method saves on labour, it will add to the overall cost of your foundations. Just above ground level, the footings are topped with a damp-proof course and then the ground floor is fixed.

Compared to deep strip foundations, trench fill minimises the width of the dig and the labour and materials required for building masonry below ground level, offsetting the cost of the additional concrete.

(MORE: How much will my foundations cost?)

What are Raft Foundations?

A raft is an alternative to piled foundations as it can be less expensive

As the name suggests, a concrete raft is designed to ‘float’ on the ground beneath. The structure is made up of an extra-thick floor slab, strengthened by masses on steel reinforcing. Rafts have the advantage of providing the base of a ground floor solution, not just wall trenching, but they are reckoned to be rather more complex to construct.

A raft is used where the soil requires such a large bearing area that wide strip foundations are spread too far, making it more economical to pour one large reinforced concrete slab.

What are Piled Foundations?

Short bore piles are typically 2–3m long and can be reinforced with steel

Some housebuilders now use piled foundations on every site because the costs are predictable. Piles are driven into the ground and then filled with concrete, and the whole foundation gets topped with a ground beam to build off.

Short bore pile and beam: Short bore piles are typically 2–3m long and can be reinforced with steel. Each pile is then connected at the top by a precast horizontal beam of reinforced concrete. A suspended reinforced concrete ground floor can then be built using precast components, or cast in situ.

Friction Piles: A similar concept to short bore pile and beam used in situations where there is no suitable bearing stratum at an acceptable depth. Friction piles rely on skin resistance against the soil.

What are Pad Foundations?

Used when isolated loads need to be supported, for instance to support the columns of a steel or post and beam frame house. The load is concentrated on a small area.

(MORE: How much does it cost to build a house?)

This year marks the very special 30th anniversary of Homebuilding & Renovating. Over the next 12 months, we’ll be sharing some of our favourite memories and bringing you special content to mark the occasion. Thank you for celebrating with us.

The UK was braced for snow overnight, and depending on where you live you perhaps either woke up disappointed or to a ‘snow day’. But if you are currently in the midst of a self build, extension or renovation project then snow can prove an interesting foil.  

The UK has been in the throes of inclement weather for what feels like most of 2020, with Storms Ciara and Dennis bringing flooding, travel disruption, as well as challenging conditions for building sites.

For those building, extending or renovating a house, the sight of snow can cause worry about what this means for their building project.

(MORE: Building an Extension: Beginner’s Guide)

We all know snow (as well as rain and wind) can cause havoc with travel, and if you are working with builders travelling some distance to your site, there can be delays. In some instances, it may not be possible for tradespeople to get to your property or site, meaning work needs to be rescheduled. 

Not only can this affect your project’s timeline, but delays in the schedule can also cost money.

Forecasters say up to 5cm of snow could fall in some areas, and the Met Office has put weather warnings in place for the next three days. Be sure to monitor the weather in your area in case you need to make adjustments to your build programme. 

Don’t Let Your Site Problems Snowball

Safety is ultimately paramount. You and your tradespeople don’t want to risk injury working in dangerous conditions outside. If conditions are unsafe then it’s best, if possible, to focus on another part of your project, such as the interior.

If, however, you are not directly affected by the snow but concerned about the weather affecting your project, here are five things you can do to keep your project on track.

1. Anticipate the time of year when the UK is most vulnerable to cold weather, and try to adjust your work schedule to avoid working in colder temperatures
2. Utilise floodlights and site heating to ensure that full days can be maintained when there is limited daylight
3. Protect your tools and equipment: in the increased hours of darkness thieves are more likely to try their luck
4. Stagger deliveries from tradespeople to avoid high-value items and materials sitting around in bad weather
5. Liaise with tradespeople over the safety problems facing your project in the winter, and mitigate these issues where possible

Renovators can also take additional steps to prepare their properties for winter conditions.

Winter weather can cause a variety of problems, so planning for these in advance can mitigate the disruption mid-build, and protect your home once completed.

CONTENT SUPPLIED BY CALLERTON

Managing a successful kitchen renovation or extension project is complex and involves a wide range of skills, knowledge, and experience.

Project managing a kitchen installation involves three key tasks:

• Arranging goods and services
• Scheduling the various tradespeople needed to install your kitchen
• Overseeing the installation of furniture, products, and services to the right standard

You’ll find all of these attributes in a professional design-led kitchen specialist retailer. By appointing the right team at the start of your project you can be assured of your kitchen reaching its full potential. Before appointing your team check their portfolio of previous work and customer reviews to confirm their credentials.

Design and Plan

Your kitchen design should of course be in conjunction with the architectural phase, but also in relation to how your project needs to be implemented. Ultimately, you want to avoid making any off-the-cuff decisions once the build is underway.

Ensure you use a first-rate professional kitchen designer and quality products. The project management element that they offer will ensure key services such as power, plumbing, and extraction are all ready and in the right place before fitting the kitchen. Take underfloor heating as an example, the kitchen furniture and appliances cannot sit above this, meaning the kitchen footprint is required prior to starting on site.

Professional Installation

If you’ve designed your kitchen well, the installation process will go smoothly, and potential hiccups can be avoided.

Whether you are project managing your kitchen extension yourself, or designating it someone else, its complexity makes it a skilful job. You’ll find all these project manager attributes in a professional independent design-led kitchen specialist retailer.

Hiring a specialist can take some of the stress away because they’ll have done this many times before.

It seems looks can be deceiving when it comes to house prices, as a new poll reveals that only 1% of people could correctly identify the most expensive homes in the UK. 

Property experts Housesimple polled 2,000 people on the price of homes in the UK, and within their local areas, to challenge perceptions of property costs. 

People were faced with a series of questions, all asking which of two property types is more expensive. 

In one scenario, a four-bedroom barn conversion in Blackburn was compared with a two-bedroom penthouse in London. Despite there being a near £2.5m difference between the properties — the London home cost £2.8m, compared with the £360,000 barn conversion — around one in five wrongly believed the barn conversion cost more.

In another comparison, 35% of people incorrectly believed that a five-bedroom detached house in Norwich (£500k) cost more than a six-bedroom detached house in Suffolk (£1m).

The findings reveal that many people aren’t aware of the importance of location with regards to house prices, and that aspiring homeowners may be able to get more for their money elsewhere. 

Sam Mitchell, CEO at Housesimple, commented: “Property prices are a national obsession, so it’s interesting to see from the results that the majority of Brits may not know what they could get for their money in other parts of the country.”

House Prices on the Rise

House prices are close to an all-time high in the UK, indicating the housing market’s recovery in recent years. But this is also a potentially discouraging development for first-time buyers struggling to get on the housing ladder. 

If you’re unable to afford a deposit for a home, then self build offers an cost-effective alternative. Self build not only enables you to build your a home tailored to your specific requirements and lifestyle, but can also help you save up to 30% on market value. 

New homes need to be better protected against flooding and should only be built on flood plains if there is no real alternative, the Environment Agency has warned.

The warnings follow widespread flooding caused by Storms Ciara and Dennis this year.

Currently, there are 112 flood warnings in place across England and Wales, and making homes ‘flood-proof’ to prevent future damage is paramount according to the Environment Agency.

Sir James Bevan, head of the Environment Agency, said: “First, we must continue to do what we have been doing for some years now: building and maintaining strong defences to reduce the risk of communities being flooded. The best way to defuse the weather bomb is better protection and stronger resilience. We need both.”

Making Homes Flood-Proof

One of the mitigating solutions suggested to flood-proof homes is to designate the ground floor just for garages and move living spaces up to first and second floors to protect people and their belongings from flooding. 

But Sir James added that it wouldn’t be practical to ban all development on flood plains because they cover wide areas of the country. He stressed that if there is no real alternative to building new homes on flood plains, then they should at least be more resilient to flooding.

Sir James went on to say that most people would accept that some homes should not have been built, and called for a conversation about the sustainability and protection of homes in the long term. 

Is Your Home Protected?

Six out of 10 people never check their home’s flood risk, a startling study revealed last year. This is not only dangerous from a safety standpoint but can also prove extremely costly.

For those looking to self build or buy a home in a flood zone, it is essential to research the risk of flooding and plan in mitigation solutions at the design stage where possible.You should also establish a flood defence strategy, including a plan of what to do should a flood occur. 

The builders of this oak frame property knew that their plot was prone to flooding so they had the house raised up one meter above the ground to prevent flood damage.

Plans for a 1,500-home eco town have been revealed and will feature energy-efficient homes within a sustainable infrastructure.

The first 169 eco homes to be built in Cornwall will be part of a garden village on a development the size of 290 football pitches. 

The energy-efficient homes will be available “to suit everyone from first-time buyers to retirees”, and integrated to “create an innovative and truly sustainable community”. And 30% will be affordable homes.

Outline planning permission has already been granted for the wider development, with work on the project expected to begin later this year, providing a reserved matters application is accepted. 

There will be a focus on using renewable energy for the village — a solar farm is already situated on the site — and there are plans to ensure the village is carefully integrated with the green infrastructure and landscape.

The project, titled West Carclaze Garden Village has been drawn up in partnership between Orascom Development and Imerys – creating a new venture called Eco-Bos, which is now progressing with implementing the development. 

Eco-Bos also plans to introduce a network of cycle and footpaths, with 350 acres of the site designated as open space for use by residents of the garden village and the wider public. 

Benefit of Sustainable Homes

Developments such as West Carclaze are welcome additions for improving the energy efficiency of homes. Earlier this year the English Housing Survey revealed energy efficiency in homes has improved over the last two decades, but has slowed down in recent years. 

For self builders, building a sustainable home allows you to install the latest renewable technology for heat and power which can help to lower your energy demand, thus reducing costs in the long term.  

(MORE: Self Build: The Complete Guide)

The Scottish government has pledged to make all new homes energy efficient by 2024, and the homebuilding industry is continually exploring new ways of improving sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

Earlier this month a study revealed that timber frame construction could store up to 700 million tonnes of carbon a year.