Field notes
Costs, guides
and honest answers.
What a London renovation really costs. When planning permission is needed. How to tell a real builder from a chancer. The questions worth asking before you sign — and the answers a lot of the trade would rather keep quiet.
Renovating period homes in West London's conservation areas (2026 guide)
What it costs, what the rules require, and how flat and house owners across W2–W14 and SW5–SW7 get renovation right in 2026.
Renovating and extending a home in the Surrey commuter belt (2026)
What it really costs to renovate or extend a large detached or semi-detached home in Surrey and the London commuter belt in 2026 — with real postcode detail.
Victorian terrace extensions in South-West London (2026): side-returns, rear extensions and loft conversions
The definitive region-led guide to extending a Victorian or Edwardian terrace in SW London — cost ranges, SW clay and planning realities, and how the three main projects compare.
Full house renovation in South-East London (2026): costs, timelines and what to expect
A definitive guide to renovating a house in South-East London in 2026 — SE Victorian terraces, Blackheath and Dulwich villas, Bermondsey conversions — with real costs and postcode-specific planning facts.
Renovating and extending a North London home (2026): the practical guide
A place-led guide to renovating and extending in North London — Victorian and Georgian terraces, conservation areas, party walls, and what it actually costs in 2026 by postcode area.
Full house renovation cost, London 2026: the budget, and how to keep it
What a whole-house renovation costs in London in 2026 by size and spec — £850–£1,950/m² — how the budget splits, the contingency rule, and how the price stays fixed.
House extension cost in London (2026): a plot-by-plot guide
Work out which extension your London plot allows, then the all-in 2026 price — covering rear, side-return, two-storey, wrap-around and over-garage builds, fees included.
Kitchen renovation cost in London (2026): the two levers that set the price
A London kitchen runs about £16,000–£125,000 in 2026 — and two choices decide most of it. The cost tiers by cabinetry, where to spend vs save, and the hidden structural cost.
Bathroom renovation cost in London (2026): what actually moves your number
A London bathroom renovation runs about £8,500–£38,000 in 2026. The five things that decide where you land, three priced briefs, and how the quote stays fixed.
Loft conversion cost in London (2026): can your roof take one, and what it costs
What a London loft conversion costs in 2026 by type — £42,000–£170,000 — starting with the head-height test that decides if it works at all, plus the compliance costs.
Boiler replacement cost in London (2026): the real all-in price
A new boiler in London is £2,500–£5,500 installed in 2026 for most homes. The honest all-in price by type, and the four line items that decide whether it lasts.
Side-return extension in London (2026): the best-value square metre you own
A side-return adds few square metres but transforms the ground floor. What it costs all-in for 2026, the three things that drive the price, and the planning and party-wall reality.
Open-plan kitchen extension: is it worth it in London (2026)?
A straight answer on whether an open-plan kitchen extension is worth it in London — the cost gap, the structural reality, the value added, and the downsides.
Renovating a Victorian house in London (2026): the survey to do before you budget
On Victorian and Edwardian London stock, the budget-killer is what you didn't find. An element-by-element pre-commitment survey, the red flags, and what each fix costs.
Full flat renovation in London (2026): the lease runs the job
Renovating a London flat is gated by permissions long before any trade arrives. The consents critical path, the four flat-only constraints, and what a full refit costs by size.
Mansard roof conversion in London (2026): will you get permission, and what it costs
A mansard's real gate is planning, not money. Whether your London terrace qualifies, what councils demand, and what a mansard conversion costs in 2026.
Basement conversion cost in London (2026): is your house even a candidate?
Before the cost, a go/no-go test for a London basement conversion — then 2026 prices for full-dig, slab-lowering and tanking, and who does what on the job.
Wet room vs walk-in shower in London (2026): which is right for your bathroom?
A wet room and a walk-in shower are different projects with different risks. Which suits your room, household and floor — the costs, and the waterproofing that decides it.
Engineered oak, solid wood or LVT? Choosing a London floor (2026)
Four questions that pick the right floor for a London home — engineered oak, solid wood, LVT or laminate — with the 2026 costs and the spec that decides if you regret it.
Fitted wardrobes in London (2026): flat-pack, modular or bespoke — and what it costs
What flat-pack, modular and bespoke fitted wardrobes really cost in London for 2026 — and the simple rule for which one to choose, plus the carcass test that spots a bad one.
How to choose a builder in London (2026): the paper-trail test
The honest way to vet a London builder: judge the documents, not the patter. The itemised quote, the insurance, the credentials, the contract and the two questions that decide it.
How to get planning permission in London: a homeowner's guide (2026)
Do you even need planning permission? The three routes, the step-by-step process, how long it takes in London, why applications fail, and what your builder should do.
The Party Wall Act in London (2026): the deadlines that decide your start date
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is really a timing problem. Which notice you serve, how far ahead, what a dissenting neighbour adds, and how to keep the schedule intact.
Do you need a structural engineer? A London homeowner's guide (2026)
When a London renovation legally needs a structural engineer, what they actually do, what they cost in 2026, and how your builder should be working with one.
How long does a renovation take in London? (2026 timelines by project)
Realistic 2026 durations for a London bathroom, kitchen, loft, whole-house renovation and extension — phase by phase, plus the lead-time items that cause most delays.
Loft conversion planning permission in London (2026): when you need it
Most London loft conversions are permitted development — but not all. The volume rules, what removes your PD rights, and how to get permission when you need it.
Renovating a listed building in London (2026): the rules, the methods, the cost
What listing actually means for a London renovation: what needs consent and what doesn't, why the building methods change, the cost premium, and how a builder works on heritage.
Crittall-style steel windows in London (2026): costs, specs and the honest trade-offs
Authentic Crittall or steel-look aluminium? What steel-framed windows and internal screens cost in London for 2026, the thermal reality, and how heritage elevations are handled.
How to improve your EPC rating (London homes, 2026)
What actually moves an EPC rating on a London home — ranked by cost-per-point — plus the 2028 MEES landlord deadline, what needs a specialist, and the grants.
Smart home retrofit in London (2026): what a builder actually wires in
What 'smart home' really means in a London renovation, the one timing rule that saves thousands, wired vs wireless honestly, and the system costs from entry to full KNX.