For serving Police Officers and staff, home should be an oasis of calm, a world away from the stresses and pressures of the working day. Which is why it's important to create a comfortable living environment that helps you relax and make the most of precious time off-shift. The quality of your living space can have a significant impact on your relationship with your family, so create a home that works for everyone who shares it.

Home improvements

If you're planning some home improvements, the first step is to find out if you need permission. Extensions and larger projects will usually require planning permission, while smaller changes may simply require building regulations approval.

Planning rules can be complex, covering everything from paving your front lawn, to installing solar panels on your roof. And even the hedges in your garden can come under the jurisdiction of planning conditions and legal covenants. So before you plan any significant home improvements, visit the government-backed Planning Portal website for advice and guidance.

Creating more space

Creating enough space for all family members is a great way to bring harmony to a home - whether that's a den for teenagers, or some quiet space for you. The most obvious way to increase space is by adding an extension, but that's usually the most expensive option too. And it's often possible to find more cost-effective ways of adding living space - like an attic conversion, garage conversion, or a conservatory or orangery.

If you're looking for help to fund your home improvements, Police Mutual have teamed up with Neyber, our trusted partner, to offer personal loans to the Police family. The loans are available from £2,000 - £25,000 over 1 to 5 years - representative APR 4.9%. To find out more about how personal loans work and to get a free no obligation quote click here.

Of course, if you've outgrown your home entirely and you're ready to move on, we could save you money on a mortgage for a new home. Police Mutual offers access to the whole of the mortgage market, with exclusive deals for the Police Family and free advice for our members. To find out more click here.

Making your home "smarter"

A good way to make your living environment more comfortable without carrying out expensive structural changes, is to install the latest home automation technology. It doesn't have to cost a fortune, and some innovations can actually help you save money in the long-run, by becoming more energy efficient - like intelligent heating.

Smart central heating lets you control your boiler from your smartphone. So if you're held up at work, you can tell it to stay switched off. And when you're heading home, you can tell it to prepare a warm welcome.

Today's smart homes contain all kinds of connected devices, from automated window blinds to "connected kettles" that you can switch on via your smartphone - so you can walk in from work and make a cup of tea right away, or enjoy an extra 5 minutes lie-in while the kettle boils for your morning brew.

Remember, whatever home improvements you might be considering, it doesn't have to be about adding value - it should really be about enhancing the quality of the time you spend with the people you care about.

Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited (PMAS) is an incorporated friendly society. Mortgage Excellence Plc, trading as Police Mutual, is registered in England & Wales No. 03527577. The registered office for PMAS and MEX is Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 6QS. The advice and recommendation service is free. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored. There is no charge for administering your mortgage application as a fee is received from the lender. Calls to 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines and mobiles.

Neyber Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Interim permission: 663054. Registered address: First Floor (East), Tabernacle Court, 16-28 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4DD, United Kingdom. Company registered number: 08806631 Data Protection Registration Number: ZA039009