self-build

Don’t lose the plot over Right to Build!

self-build

Building your own home is now meant to be easier than ever. The government has unveiled its Right to Build campaign to promote self-building as a more affordable way and cost-effective way to provide a family home. Unveiled by planning minister Nick Boles earlier this summer, Right to Build encourages would-be self-builders to work with specialist designers to custom build their property and to dramatically increase the 10,000 homes currently built this way each year.

But what about finding the right plot for the home of your dreams in the first place? With brownfield sites, garden plots and demolition sites to choose from – and obtain planning permission for – the process can be daunting. Carol Parry, marketing manager at oak frame designers and builders Welsh Oak Frame, says: “There are so many different types of plot available, from brownfield sites to agricultural dwellings, and how easily you can gain planning permission will usually depend on the type of plot you choose.” Luckily, Welsh Oak Frame has the following advice!

ÔÇ£ Brownfield sites

In urban areas, the government positively encourages building on these sites. If you’re looking at a rural site, despite the existence of countryside protection policies, you may still achieve planning permission if you’re planning to replace an unwelcome existing building, which may be unsightly.┬á

Self-builder projects

Some councils are now embracing self-build projects with available land specifically for this purpose, so check whether your local council offers this by contacting their planning policy department.

Garden plots

Planning departments tend to look at these plots favourably ÔÇô make sure your proposal is within the settlement boundaries. Your new build will need to be sympathetic in design to the surroundings and not create an obstruction to neighbours, such as loss of light. At Welsh Oak Frame, our teams excel at designing character-filled, stylish homes that are in keeping with other properties in the area.

Demolition locations

We find many of our clients buy a plot of land with an existing home, which they then knock down to replace with a luxury oak frame structure. However, make sure the existing property isn’t listed. And if you’re buying in a rural location where the existing house has not been occupied for some years and it’s derelict, this space will be seen as open countryside by planning departments. If the existing property is smaller than your needs, check the size your council’s planning department will allow, as the increase may not be big enough for your needs.┬á┬áÔÇØ

Other countries are well ahead of the UK in terms of the number of self and custom-built houses compared to homes built by regular developers. In Austria about 80% of all homes are self-built whilst in Germany, France and Italy the figure is about 60%. In the US and Australia about 40% of homes are self-built yet in the UK just eight to 10% of homes are custom-built.

A 2013 survey by Ipsos Mori on behalf of what is now the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) found that one in eight Brits planned to research how to build a home for themselves in the following 12 months and that around one in 50 planned to buy a building plot, obtain detailed planning consent or start construction work.

Welsh Oak Frame, based in Caersws, Powys, has more than 20 yearsÔÇÖ experience in designing and building oak frames for self-build homes and recently won the prestigious Best Use of Oak Frame in the Build It awards.

 

How to… replace a light fixture

light-fixtureIn response to all the questions put to the DIY Advice team about home and garden DIY, weÔÇÖve decided to launch a new ÔÇÿHow toÔǪÔÇÖ series. And what more of an ÔÇÿilluminatingÔÇÖ way to start than with a step-by-step guide to one of the most useful DIY skills you can have ÔÇô fitting a new light fixture to the ceiling!

  1. The first step is to switch off the power supply at the mains – simply switching off the light you are going to change at its switch is not enough and could cause you serious harm. If the light was previously on, wait for the bulb to cool down
  2. Remove the old shade via the screws or clips. Unscrew the light bulbs to prevent them from smashing and then remove the fixture base via the bolts
  3. Using a non-contact voltage tester, double check that the circuit is off. ItÔÇÖs now safe to loosen and disconnect the wiring before removing the old fixture completely. Be prepared for some dust to fall on you!
  4. If the new light is of a fairly similar design (and age) to the old one, it might be possible to use the original mounting bracket. If they are different, remove the old one and attach the bracket that comes with your replacement light
  5. Wire the new fitting. Connect the brown (or if itÔÇÖs older, red) cable to the live terminal connection. Connect the blue (or if itÔÇÖs older, black) cable to the neutral terminal connection. Connect the green and yellow earth cable to the earth terminal, covering any exposed copper with earth cable sleeving.┬áNB. You might need somebody to hold the light fitting for you to take its weight whilst┬áyou connect the wiring
  6. Carefully push the wires into the ceiling box and, following the manufacturerÔÇÖs instructions, secure the light fixture base to the mounting bracket, making sure no wires are caught between the fitting and the ceiling
  7. Install the light bulbs and screw on the new light shade
  8. Turn the mains electricity back on, flip the light switch and stand back to admire your handiwork!

Installing a new ceiling light is not a difficult job or one that requires a great deal of DIY experience. The golden rule with DIY, however, is that if youÔÇÖre really uncomfortable attempting a task ÔÇô donÔÇÖt. Calling in an electrician might seem like an unnecessary expense but itÔÇÖs far better to pay up than risk injuring yourself or other people in your home.

Why DIY could cost you dear!

home-insuranceWhat kind of DIY enthusiast are you? Do you do it yourself because you love fixing, painting and building things? Or is your enthusiasm more about the pounds youÔÇÖre saving by foregoing a professional job?

If itÔÇÖs the latter, the bad news is that your dates with DIY could end up costing you a lot more than you expect. This is because if the job goes wrong, the repairs might not be covered by your home insurance, leaving you facing a potentially hefty bill.

Home insurance covers the policyholder for events such as loss, damage or theft. But if the loss or damage is caused by the policyholder him or herself, the insurance company might not be so eager to pay out! If you have accidental damage cover or household emergencies cover included with your policy, you might assume that you can make a claim if your have-a-go handiwork proves less than happy. But DIY disasters are a real grey area, with many insurance companies rejecting claims for damage that the homeowner has caused.

The key to any claim is reading through your policy thoroughly and understanding which eventualities you are and arenÔÇÖt covered for. ItÔÇÖs likely that your insurance policy will extend to repairing a pipe if you accidentally hammer a nail through it, but not to bigger scenarios such as fixtures or furnishings ruined due to poor workmanship or damage caused to mechanical fittings or the structure of the property.

If you do DIY regularly, it could be worth having a chat with your insurer to find out what your policy entails and whether you can add extra cover to a basic policy to protect against small glitches. As a rule of thumb, however, it is always wise to leave mechanical and electrical jobs to the professionals. Not only is it highly unlikely youÔÇÖd be covered for damage whilst carrying out such jobs, they could prove risky! Always keep boilers and electricals maintained and serviced where appropriate; if you or an engineer has an accident working on poorly maintained equipment, it could be another reason for a claim to be withheld.

And whether you do it yourself or call in the experts, donÔÇÖt forget to notify your home insurers of major changes. Adding a kitchen extension or converting a garage to a spare bedroom might not seem relevant at the time but could make a big difference to your policy if you later have to make a claim.