“With the right support in place and with regulator, government, industry and consumers working together, we can find a way through this” Last Friday, Ofgem, the government regulator for the electricity and downstream natural gas markets in Great Britain, confirmed the energy price cap will increase from £1,971 to £3,549 a year from 1 October. […]
Monthly archives: August 2022
New build buying considerations
Demand for new builds is on the up due to more people seeking energy efficient homes, but research1 has revealed other factors people wish they had considered before purchasing a new build. Top of the list (36%) is researching the property manager as well as the developer, closely followed (35%) by checking out the parking […]
Divorce and your pension
Research1 suggests that nearly one in five people are, or will be, financially worse off due to their divorce, and that many divorcees struggle to make ends meet after separating from their partner. The statistics make for worrying reading. A third of divorced respondents said they were forced to take money from their savings to […]
JISA to adult ISA transition period – tune in
Currently a Junior Individual Savings Account (JISA) can be held by a child until the day they turn 18, the annual allowance for which is currently £9,000. On their 18th birthday, the child can open an adult stocks and shares ISA, the annual subscription which is currently £20,000. All pretty straightforward. Now, for the interesting […]
Residential Property Review – August 2022
Slowing market as demand dips again The UK residential market continues to slow at a steady pace, the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Survey and Savills’ Housing Market Update both indicate, as demand wanes and supply remains low. New buyer enquiries fell for a third consecutive month in July, the RICS report […]
Commercial Property Market Review – August 2022
Caution key in Q2 RICS survey Μacroeconomic pressures are negatively influencing investor sentiment, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors UK Commercial Property Survey (RICS), which signalled a more cautious tone in the commercial property market. Rising interest rates remain a burden, with a net balance of -42% of respondents acknowledging worsening credit […]
News in Review
“Own-label ranges are at record levels of popularity” UK retail sales improved in July, according to data released on Friday from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Sales volumes rose by 0.3% in the month, outperforming predictions of a 0.2% decline. According to ONS, sales volumes were 2.3% above their pre-COVID (February 2020) levels, but […]
News in Review
“These are challenging times” In a week where droughts were officially declared across England, the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest assessment of the UK economy revealed tough economic conditions. In the second quarter, the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.1%, largely the result of a 0.6% monthly dip in June. According to […]
Mortgage myths – fact versus fiction
MYTH: You need a perfect credit rating A bad credit history can have a negative impact on your mortgage application, but it doesn’t make getting a mortgage impossible. Indeed, there are specialist lenders who offer mortgages to people with less favourable credit histories. MYTH: You can’t get a mortgage if you’re self-employed It’s also a […]
Gen up on pension numbers
With so many financial priorities to juggle, it can be hard to put your pension first, especially with spiralling household costs. Starting or maintaining your pension contributions is important. Whatever type of pension plan you have, you get tax relief at the highest rate of Income Tax you pay on all contributions you make, subject […]