Interiors

It's a common exercise in any sector of activity - to foresee macro-trends, understand phenomena and draw up plans to respond to those same expectations of a future that is always more innovative, challenging and non-linear. The complementary worlds of architecture, construction and design are no exception and are the forerunners of boldness and disruption of norms, an attitude that brings them closer to the frontier between the beauty of evolution and the power of change.

On 20 March 2019 a new law came into force to ensure rented properties are ‘fit for human habitation’, meaning they are safe, healthy, and free from things that could cause serious harm. This new law, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, helps tenants and landlords by making sure that their rental property isn’t causing them to live in dangerous or unhealthy conditions.

And according to The English Housing Survey for Housing Quality and Condition [1],  3.5 million occupied homes were not suitable and did not meet the Decent Homes Standard in 2020, with 4% having serious damp issues. Whilst 4% might not sound like a large number, it accounts for 941,000 houses. On top of this, the cost to the NHS to treat the impact of damp is approximately £38 million2. And landlords can also face high costs to carry out repairs, put right health and safety problems, or pay compensation to the tenant.

When designing properties, housing providers should think carefully about the colours used in each room and the emotions they evoke in building occupants. In this article, Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade explains what people want to feel in their homes and how colour and design can be used to improve occupant wellbeing and help to make a space more welcoming and homely.

Beauflor® attended Europe’s largest housing festival to show its sheet vinyl flooring that meets the quality and affordability challenges of the sector.

Beauflor used June’s Housing 2023 show in Manchester to demonstrate the suitability of its floors for social and affordable homes. Beauflor sheet vinyl floors offer benefits for housebuilders, developers, local authorities and housing associations. Meeting the quality and affordability challenges of the sector, while providing tenants with a floor that’s homely, comfortable and easy to look after; providers can ensure a floor that’s not just lasting but one that also helps to create a good quality home for tenants.

For many social tenants, the idea of a wet room is far from a luxury, but a necessity, however some landlords express concern at the idea of installing wet rooms on upper floors. Here, Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, a leading provider of inclusive solutions, discusses how wet rooms are not just for downstairs installs and how they can be specified – with confidence - upstairs too.

With Blacktex sheet vinyl floors from Beauflor®, affordable housing refurbishments can benefit from a floor that’s fast to install, durable and comfortable in use.

The BBC has reported that anti-poverty campaigners are calling for housing associations to stop ripping out carpets and leaving tenants with bare floors. The report also recorded that there is a number of forward thinking organisations looking for a solution to the crisis. Finding a floor that’s affordable, fast to install, durable and comfort in use is paramount in the hunt for answers.

The need to deliver a supportive, good quality interior at a low cost presents difficulties in the selection of flooring within social housing projects. Speed of installation, homely design, easy maintenance and durability all at a low cost, is not something every floor can deliver.

Beauflor sheet vinyl flooring offers an attractive finish across a wide range of popular natural looks with benefits for the developer and tenant alike. For the housing association, it’s cost-effective, fast to install and durable helping to deliver value throughout its life cycle. Tenants benefit from a homely and comfortable floor that’s hygienic, easy to maintain, safe to walk on and which has the potential to support their feeling of wellbeing.