Practical guidance on construction, refurbishment and property maintenance from the team at RS Construction and Property Services Ltd — drawing on our work across East London and London.
The confirmed minimum energy efficiency standard for social rented homes — what must be met by 1 April 2030 and 2039, the £10,000 cost cap, available funding, and how providers should plan retrofit works.
Typical timescales for minor and major void refurbishments, what the sector data says about relet times, and the practical steps that cut void turnaround.
A plain-English guide to the Decent Homes Standard — the four criteria every social home must meet, what is changing, and how providers bring stock up to standard.
A clear guide to the accreditations you see on construction websites — CHAS, SSIP, ISO, Gas Safe and NICEIC — and what they actually tell you about a contractor.
A plain-English guide to CAT A and CAT B commercial fit-out — what each covers, who typically pays, and how it relates to dilapidations.
What housing providers and local authorities should look for in a social housing contractor — from void turnaround and compliance to directly employed teams.
What an EICR is, when landlords are legally required to have one, what the C1, C2, C3 and FI classification codes mean, and how often the report needs renewing.
The difference between planned (preventative) and reactive (responsive) property maintenance, the pros and cons of each, and why most portfolios need a blend of the two.
A plain-English guide to what a house extension costs in London in 2026 — indicative ranges for single-storey, double-storey and loft projects, and the factors that move the price.
A plain-English explanation of the principal contractor role under the CDM Regulations 2015 — when it is legally required, what the duties are, and how it differs from the principal designer.
What causes damp and mould, why painting over it never works, and what Awaab’s Law means for the duties of social landlords and housing providers.
How experienced contractors carry out school and academy refurbishment around live teaching — from safeguarding and DBS checks to phasing, hoarding and out-of-hours working.