Guides · long reads
In-depth guides on UK renovations.
The five tools answer one question each. The guides go deeper — the kind of long-read piece you’d want before committing to a serious renovation. Five are published below; more are in the pipeline.
Published
- 01
Renovation cost · 14 min read · May 2026
How much does it cost to renovate a house in the UK in 2026?
Full breakdown by room, region and spec. BCIS Q1 2026 + FMB 2026 data restated for homeowners, with the eight hidden costs nobody quotes for and the VAT treatment that catches four in ten.
Read the guide → - 02
AI · 12 min read · May 2026
Can AI estimate a UK renovation cost from a property photo?
We put Claude Sonnet 4.5 vision against a chartered UK quantity surveyor on a real Inner-London semi. The seven hidden costs no model can see, and how to decide when to trust the AI number.
Read the guide → - 03
Planning · 13 min read · May 2026
When do you need planning permission in the UK? Complete 2026 guide
Permitted Development Classes A–E explained, Article 4 directions, Lawful Development Certificates, Conservation Areas, the householder application process — with the 2026 fees and timelines.
Read the guide → - 04
Grants · 14 min read · Jun 2026
Every UK home renovation grant in one place: the complete 2026 guide
ECO4, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Home Upgrade Grant 2, the Great British Insulation Scheme, the Warm Homes Plan, Disabled Facilities Grant and the 0% VAT route — amounts, eligibility, application process, and how to stack them for up to £35,000 of subsidy.
Read the guide → - 05
Timelines · 13 min read · Jun 2026
Realistic UK renovation timelines 2026: how long renovations actually take
Honest week-by-week schedules. The four phases, planning timelines, lead times that bite, what slips most, and a 24-week template for a typical whole-house refurb — with the seasonality and supply-chain context for 2026.
Read the guide →
In the pipeline
- 06
Quotes · 7 min read
Is this builder's quote fair?
The seven warning signs in a UK renovation quote, the contract clauses that matter, and the specific questions to ask before you sign.
Want one of these prioritised? Email the team and we’ll bump it.