{"id":30131,"date":"2021-05-29T16:04:03","date_gmt":"2021-05-29T15:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=30131"},"modified":"2021-05-28T17:59:52","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T16:59:52","slug":"labc-launches-new-home-improvement-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=30131","title":{"rendered":"LABC launches new home improvement website"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Local Authority Building Control (LABC) has launched a new website for homeowners \u2013 Front Door \u2013 which provides practical guidance on all sorts of home improvements and renovations as well as technical advice on obtaining building control and planning approvals.<\/h3>\n

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\u2026 website features sections on popular home renovation projects…<\/p>\n

<\/span>…LABC launches new home improvement website…<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

Pbctoday<\/em> writes:<\/p>\n

Launched in February 2021, the\u00a0home improvement website<\/a>\u00a0has won plaudits from industry and consumers including the British Home Design magazine who said: \u201cThis new website is an invaluable source of knowledge and advice and explains what Local Authority Building Control surveyors do and how they work with your designer, builder and tradespeople!\u201d<\/p>\n

The website features sections on popular home renovation projects like garage conversions,\u00a0extensions<\/a>, kitchen renovations, roofing and loft conversions and encourages homeowners to get in touch with their own queries with the \u2018Ask Anna\u2019\u00a0feature.<\/p>\n

Front Door will also be regularly publishing\u00a0blog posts<\/a>\u00a0and homeowner-related news items.<\/p>\n

Front Door is a useful source for builders and other tradespeople who work with homeowners on a day to day basis, giving them somewhere to signpost clients for expert advice and to check facts themselves and understand their rights and responsibilities.<\/p>\n

\u2018A one-stop-shop for any homeowner\u2019<\/h3>\n

Tom Reynolds, CEO of the\u00a0Bathroom Manufacturers Association<\/a>, said: \u201cProduct compliance and building control may not be the most exciting topics, but they are about keeping you safe and stopping you getting ripped off.<\/p>\n

\u201cFront Door is a great source of easy-to-understand info about the rules, direct from people you can trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian Berry, chief executive of the\u00a0Federation of Master Builders<\/a>\u00a0(FMB), commented: \u201cFront Door is a brilliant one-stop-shop for any homeowner thinking about having work done to their home.\u201d<\/p>\n

LABC has worked with the Competent Person Schemes Forum and the NHIC (National Home Improvement Council) providing access to specialist consumer protection advice and a comprehensive list of Competent Persons Scheme Operators and their registered and regulated firms and installers.<\/p>\n

Anna Scothern, chief executive of the\u00a0National Home Improvement Council<\/a>\u00a0(NHIC), said: \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that LABC, who have been members of the NHIC for many years, have risen to the challenge of producing a free to use independent resource for homeowners to help them understand how best to safely and affordably carry out home improvement works.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Front Door website should be everyone\u2019s first port of call when planning to improve their home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018A resource for people with no construction knowledge\u2019<\/h3>\n

LABC\u2019s head of engagement, Anna Thompson, added: \u201cWe called it \u2018Front Door\u2019 because every home has one! It\u2019s been designed as a resource written for people with no construction knowledge and who may be concerned about the reliability of all the information out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a comprehensive, one-stop website with expert advice and consumer information checked out by the National Home Improvement Council. The emphasis is on compliance, safety, peace of mind and public protection.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lockdown has meant people are spending more time in their homes and as a result many are realising they want to make changes \u2013 perhaps to add more living space with a garage or loft conversion to incorporate a home office.<\/p>\n

\u201cFront Door helps people avoid rogue traders, explains homeowners\u2019 responsibilities to make sure work is safe and complies with\u00a0building regulations<\/a>\u00a0and has a broad range of advice and information to make home improvement projects go smoothly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more….<\/a><\/p>\n

See the IHBC\u2019s complementary service, \u2018Caring for your Home<\/a>\u2019<\/p>\n

See also IHBC\u2019s services linked at:<\/p>\n