New research1 indicates that more than half (52%) of buy-to-let (BTL) landlords have been actively expanding their property portfolios over the past year, with 25% acquiring one property and an additional 27% acquiring multiple properties. Looking at the next twelve months, 26% intend to acquire a single property, while another 26% plan to expand their […]
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Record levels of IHT receipts
Figures released by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) show that IHT receipts have hit record levels while new data shows the taxman is hunting down thousands of families that have not paid the correct liability on inherited estates. Record sums In the first ten months of the 2023/24 financial year, HMRC collected £6.3bn in death […]
News in Review
‘A change in Bank Rate in June is neither ruled out nor a fait accompli” Last week, during their third meeting of the year, the Bank of England’s (BoE’s) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to retain Bank Rate at 5.25% by a majority of seven to two. Two members of the committee preferred to reduce […]
In the news
Equity release trends According to the Equity Release Council1, total annual lending reached £2.6bn in 2023, compared to a record-breaking £6.2bn in 2022, returning the market to the level of activity last seen between 2016 to 2017 (£2.1bn to £3.1bn). The total number of plans agreed last year was 26,119, a drop of 47% from […]
Get planning children’s financial futures
We all want a good start in life for the children in our family. After providing for the immediate needs of younger children, thoughts turn towards the future and consideration of longer-term goals. You may want to consider investing for your child’s future to potentially build something significant which they can call on in later […]
News in Review
“Businesses are feeling increasingly confident about the economy” The recently released Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer has revealed that during April overall business confidence was consistent at 42%. The confidence recording remains considerably higher than the Barometer’s long-term average of 28%. In the last year, only the reading in January 2024 has seen businesses reporting higher […]
In the news
Find lost money! Up to £800m of pension and insurance assets and an even higher amount of savings could be lying dormant, according to new data1. Bank and savings accounts may be declared dormant if you don’t touch the account for several years and any letters from the bank or building society may fail to […]
Economic Review – April 2024
UK economic recovery gains momentum Official statistics published last month showed the UK economy returned to growth in the first two months of 2024, while more recent survey data suggests the recovery from last year’s shallow recession continues to gather momentum. The latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures released by the Office for National Statistics […]
News in Review
“Conditions facing manufacturers have taken a turn for the better” Sentiment in the manufacturing sector took a positive upturn in April, with output expectations hitting a six-month high, according to the latest Industrial Trends Survey, released by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) last week. As demand uncertainty recedes and financing concerns reduce, investment intentions […]
More later life FTBs
The challenges young people face in getting on the property ladder are a regular feature in the media. A less-often discussed impact of the UK’s housing market, however, is the rising age of first-time buyers (FTBs). Average age rises The biggest increase in FTBs in the last five years has been among older homebuyers, a […]