Do you sometimes sit at home and think; “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just change this about our house and then it would work so much better for us”. Quickly followed by: “Yes but where would we start, it is probably far too expensive and complicated anyway”.
Okay maybe you haven’t had that exact conversation but you may be curious about how you could maximise the potential of your home or are desperate for more space but not wanting to move.
If this is similar to your thoughts maybe a good way to start would be Architect in the House. This is a joint venture between the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the housing charity Shelter.
How it works is home owners sign up on the Architect in the House website: www.architectinthehouse.org.uk they are then paired up with a local chartered Architect who comes round to your home for an hour’s free consultation. In this time you can discuss the problems you currently have with your home, be it an inefficient layout, general lack of space or a need for extra facilities such as a bigger kitchen or a second bathroom. Your Architect will then provide you with some ideas of the changes you could make and an indication of costs and the process required, like whether it will need planning and building regulations approval.
Following this you can then decide if the possibilities highlighted to you are something you want to continue with. The Architect gives their time for free with a suggested donation to Shelter of £40.
As an Architect I have taken part in Architect in the House for the last few years and found it a really good scheme. It is great to meet with people and discuss the potential of their home and give them ideas that maybe they had not thought about and it is often easier and cheaper to build than they expected. It is also an excellent way to support a charity that does a lot of great work for the homeless and people struggling to stay in their homes.
Sometimes the discussion results in a decision from the home owner that any changes would not be beneficial. But at least they know and can plan other options and all it has cost them is an hour of their time and £40 to a worthy charity.
Getting the most out of your house can have a really positive affect on how you live your life, whether you live in a small terrace of a large mansion. Most houses were designed and built many generations ago when we lived very different lives. Often just some simple changes can make a big impact and vastly improve your day to day home life.
You can find out more information and sign up to the scheme on the Architect in the House website: www.architectinthehouse.org.uk Registration for homeowners open now and ends 11th July.