Spending pledges for housing in Autumn Budget In his Autumn Budget delivered at the end of October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak committed more cash to building new homes on derelict or unused land in England, as part of a £24bn fund earmarked for housing. The plans will see 160,000 greener homes built on brownfield land and […]
Monthly archives: November 2021
Commercial Property Market Review – November 2021
Business rates boost for hospitality and leisure The Autumn Budget provided good news for badly hit shops, restaurants, bars and gyms, with a temporary 50% cut in business rates in England announced by the Chancellor. These sectors, which suffered particularly badly during the pandemic, will be able to claim a 50% discount on their bills […]
Switch from SVRs for better rates
Navigating the labyrinth of financial acronyms can leave even the savviest money managers with a headache. But if you are a mortgage holder, it might be time to become familiar with one important abbreviation: SVR or Standard Variable Rate. Ups and downs There’s a good chance you’ll be switched to an SVR when your existing […]
FCA highlights need for adequate protection cover
Back in February, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released its latest Financial Lives Survey. Firstly, and unsurprisingly, it revealed the severe strain the COVID-19 pandemic had put on the nation’s finances. Secondly, around a quarter of UK adults were showing signs of poor financial resilience, including over-indebtedness, low savings and low or irregular earnings. The […]
Sudden Wealth Syndrome: coping with a windfall
You’d be likely to feel happy and excited if you received a large windfall suddenly or unexpectedly. Whether you’re receiving an inheritance, have become a successful entrepreneur, or perhaps you’re selling your business, the reality is that for many, sudden wealth can feel overwhelming. It can even result in a recognised psychological condition called ‘Sudden […]
News In Review
“If we are serious about going for growth, then 2022 has to be a year of detail and delivery” During a week which saw the government confirm it was cancelling the Leeds leg of the HS2 high-speed rail line, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said more needed to be done to end the North-South […]
News In Review
“For all our disagreements, the world is undeniably heading in the right direction” At a Downing Street news conference on Sunday evening, following the conclusion of the COP26 Summit, Boris Johnson hailed the climate deal as “game-changing”, before adding that it sounds “the death knell for coal power.” Despite a late intervention by India and […]
‘Flip the context’ and protect your hard-earned cash
Pension savers lost more than £2m to scammers in the first five months of this year. The average amount lost per victim so far in 2021 is a staggering £50,949 – more than double the £23,689 lost on average in 2020. This is according to worrying research from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which found […]
News in Review
“We think there will be some need to increase interest rates to bring inflation sustainably back to target” Following many hours of discussions, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to retain the Bank of England (BoE) base rate at its record low of 0.1% at its meeting last week. The decision was made despite predictions […]
Boost the value of your home
Homeowners have benefited from double-digit house price growth in the last few months and many people are looking to boost the value of their home even further. Whether you’re planning extensive renovations or finishing touches, it’s important to understand which projects will add the most value. Aim high Loft conversions can add valuable space to […]