Will these be the worst new ‘rabbit hutch’ flats in Britain?

A developer plans to squeeze 26 flats into this building, some smaller than a budget hotel room

Twenty-six studio flats measuring as little as 18 sq metres – that’s just under 14ft by 14ft for residents’ entire living, washing and eating space – are set to be crammed into a scruffy two-storey commercial building on an industrial estate. A typical Premier Inn hotel room, by comparison, is 21.3 sq metres.

Some of the flats would apparently be windowless, with the only natural light seemingly coming from a roof light or skylight – so they would offer no view out.

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What can we do with an unwanted swimming pool?

We’re worried it will turn it into a money pit and wonder if there’s something green we can do

Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper.

We have fallen in love with a house that is perfect for us in every respect bar one – it has a swimming pool. We have never wanted one, and fear it will turn into a money pit. Short of paying to fill it in, is there anything that can done with it – preferably something green that would encourage wildlife?

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How to make a competitive offer as a first time buyer Nottingham Estate Agents

Are you looking to buy your first home? Nick Manson, Director of Mansons, in Jesmond, Newcastle, talks us through how best to prepare before making an offer Being a first time buyer can be hard work, stressful and nerve-racking. Chances are that you won’t necessarily know the market and it’s easy to be blind-sided by […]

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Help-to-buy scheme pushes housebuilder dividends to £2.3bn

Flagship policy of former government drives up firms’ profits along with house prices

Britain’s biggest housebuilders paid out £2.3bn in dividends in their most recent financial year, as the help-to-buy subsidy pumped up their profits and house prices.

The nine biggest housebuilders listed on the London Stock Exchange declared the dividend payouts in their last full financial years, according to an analysis by AJ Bell, an investment platform.

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Let’s move to Stirling: Edinburgh in miniature, with fewer stag parties

Once a stronghold of Scotland’s royalty, this historic town is a mighty fine place to live

What’s going for it? There’s no getting around Stirling. Well, OK, pedants, these days you can take the M9 or the Kincardine Bridge, or wiggle your way on the A814 along Loch Long. But in times of yore, when Scotland was more like Game Of Thrones’ Westeros, most roads led through Stirling. This is where Scotland’s waist narrows to a few score miles, and is the lowest bridging point on the River Forth. No wonder they built a castle to end all castles, high on a crag, with a sheer, almost impregnable western slope. No wonder this is where Scotland’s royalty held court from the 16th century. “He who holds Stirling holds Scotland,” went the saying. Of course, these days you can take said M9, so Stirling has settled nicely into a comfortable later life as a mighty fine place to live, with half Scotland’s population within an hour’s drive. There are fewer battles here, and a lot less buckles to be swashed but, on the upside, it’s a gorgeous town, an Edinburgh in miniature, only with fewer bagpipe buskers and stag parties from Woking.

The case against Perhaps a little sedate; but Glasgow’s only up the road.

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Let’s move to Stirling: Edinburgh in miniature, with fewer stag parties

Once a stronghold of Scotland’s royalty, this historic town is a mighty fine place to live

What’s going for it? There’s no getting around Stirling. Well, OK, pedants, these days you can take the M9 or the Kincardine Bridge, or wiggle your way on the A814 along Loch Long. But in times of yore, when Scotland was more like Game Of Thrones’ Westeros, most roads led through Stirling. This is where Scotland’s waist narrows to a few score miles, and is the lowest bridging point on the River Forth. No wonder they built a castle to end all castles, high on a crag, with a sheer, almost impregnable western slope. No wonder this is where Scotland’s royalty held court from the 16th century. “He who holds Stirling holds Scotland,” went the saying. Of course, these days you can take said M9, so Stirling has settled nicely into a comfortable later life as a mighty fine place to live, with half Scotland’s population within an hour’s drive. There are fewer battles here, and a lot less buckles to be swashed but, on the upside, it’s a gorgeous town, an Edinburgh in miniature, only with fewer bagpipe buskers and stag parties from Woking.

The case against Perhaps a little sedate; but Glasgow’s only up the road.

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Flat owners win battle to get combustible cladding replaced

Freeholder Pemberstone says new fund is being set up to cover two Manchester blocks

Owners of flats in Manchester that are covered in combustible cladding are celebrating after the success of a campaign to force the building’s owner or developer to pay the estimated £5m bill to replace them.

Leaseholders of apartments at Vallea Court and Cypress Place in the city centre have been told by their freeholder, Pemberstone, that the recladding bill, plus their legal costs and the cost of a 24-hour walking watch, will be met by a new fund. They were each facing a bill of around £20,000.

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