“Both retailers and their customers are in for hard times ahead” UK retail sales contracted in May as consumers reduced their spending, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last Friday. As prices continue to rise and the impact of inflation on household finances intensifies, retail sales volumes fell by 0.5% […]
Monthly archives: June 2022
Residential Property Review – June 2022
UK housing market – busy but slowing Following two frenetic years, UK housing market activity remains strong, despite some signs of a slowdown beginning to emerge. In April 2022, sales agreed were 18% higher than the month’s pre-pandemic average, according to TwentyCi. Completions too remained 13% above the 2017-19 rate. First-time buyers (FTBs) continue to […]
Commercial Property Market Review – June 2022
Quality is key for London office space After its pandemic-induced hibernation, London’s office market has kicked back into life, with demand from Central London occupiers in Q1 2022 more than 34% above the five-year quarterly average, according to Savills. As confidence returns to the office market, more Central London occupiers are increasing their total space […]
News in Review
‘We have the tools and determination we need to reduce inflation and I am confident the Bank will play their part in making that happen’ The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to raise Bank Rate last week, hiking the rate from 1% to 1.25%, the fifth consecutive rate rise. The MPC voted six to three […]
Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance boosts efforts on climate change
With a pledge to reduce environmentally damaging emissions from portfolios by half by 2030 and to accelerate sustainable finance, the influential investor group Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance has ramped up its commitment to tackle climate change. The prominent investor group, comprising 70 large institutions, has pledged that member firms will aim to reduce emissions linked […]
2022’s buy-to-let hotspots
Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and Luton have been hailed the best top five cities for landlords to invest in this year, based on analysis of key indicators impacting BTL desirability (including average total rent, the best short-term returns through yield and long-term return through house price growth)1. Investors have been eschewing London, which has slipped […]
IHT reporting – all change
Keeping up to date with tax changes can be challenging and you may have missed this one in relation to the reporting of Inheritance Tax (IHT), especially as it’s not something most of us will deal with very often. ‘Excepted estate’ The changes came in at the start of the year and apply to the […]
News in Review
The release of the latest Economic Outlook from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) last week, highlighted that global GDP is now projected to slow this year to around 3%, remaining at a similar pace next year. This is a downgrade following estimates of 4.5% global growth this year, made last December. Outlining […]
BTL investors tap into domestic holiday demand
Pandemic-related travel restrictions have unleashed huge demand for UK-based rentals among British holidaymakers – with buy-to-let (BTL) investors scrambling to take advantage. According to figures1, holiday let mortgage availability has trebled since 2020, giving would-be investors ample opportunity to tap into this demand. There are now 231 buy-to-let mortgages eligible for holiday lets on the […]
How to value financial advice
In recent times the importance of expert financial advice has become greater than ever, as people seek reassurance that their pensions, investments and protection plans are being professionally looked after during uncertain times. Good financial outcomes are obviously important, but these can only be measured over the long term and are just one way of […]