16-October-2017 Those who have taken advantage of the Government’s Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme will find their five year fixed rate mortgages are coming to an end – and could save money by acting now. Over 120,000 have used the scheme which enables buyers to purchase a property with a 5% deposit and 75% […]
Increase in First Time Buyers Entering the Housing Market
16-August-2017 The number of First Time Buyers is increasing thanks to the government’s help to buy scheme and historically low interest rates. Mortgage applications from First Time Buyers totalled 36000 in the month of June an increase of 22 per cent on May’s figures, according to the trade organisation, UK Finance. Help to Buy The […]
Rent to Buy Schemes Fall Short for Tenants
15-August-2017 Saving for your first deposit while renting can be difficult – even with the help of Government-backed schemes such as the Help to Buy ISA and Lifetime ISA (LISA). With soaring houses, getting a foot on the housing ladder is becoming increasingly tough. It is therefore unsurprising that some tenants have turned to alterative […]
Builders Should Pay to Fix Problem Leaseholds
4-August-2017 A group of new-build home owners is planning legal action against developers and solicitors for the mis-selling of leasehold properties. Housing developers accused of mis-selling new properties are braced for legal action after locking buyers into leases with spiraling ground rent charges. The Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, this week announced plans to prevent homebuilders […]
Generations Come Together to Beat Dementia
31-July-2017 An innovative trial in North Wales has revealed a new weapon in fighting dementia, toddlers. Following a successful experiment in a North Wales day care centre, councils and retirement home owners in England and Wales are experimenting with sharing care for the very young and the very old. Amazing results Six pre-school children joined […]
Government to Crackdown on Unfair Leasehold Charges
25-July-2017 Government plans to remove or decrease excessive ground rent will be outlined by the Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, today. Under the Government’s proposals – which are subject to an eight week consultation period – developers would be banned from selling new-build houses on onerous leases. What is a leasehold property? Leaseholders own their homes […]
Inheritance Tax Collection Breaks Record
29-June-2017 Record-breaking receipts from Inheritance Tax (IHT) boost treasury coffers. HMRC collected £5.1bn from Inheritance Tax bills over the last 12 months, records show. This is the first time that inheritance tax bills have broken through the £5bn barrier within a single year. Why are Inheritance Tax bills rising? Once the reserve of the super-rich, […]
The Return of the Green Deal
20-June-2017 The Green Deal which was shelved in 2015 has now returned and homeowners will once again be able to finance energy efficient improvements with a fixed-term loan on attractive terms. The original Green Deal was launched by the Government in 2013 with loans available for home improvements that made properties more energy efficient. These […]
Blue Peter Presenter Dies
30-May-2017 The death of popular Blue Peter presenter, John Noakes, is a timely reminder of the devastating effect of dementia. Noakes was a stalwart of children’s television in the 70s and 80s. During his 12 years on Blue Peter, he climbed Nelson’s Column without a safety net and completed a record-breaking free-fall parachute jump. But […]
Stealth Tax for Death-in-Service Payments
26-May-2017 Some families struggling to cope with the death of a loved one will be hit by a 55% tax on death-in-service payments intended to help support the surviving partner. Many workplace pension schemes include a death-in-service clause which , if an employee dies, will allow the surviving partner to take a lump sum. This […]
Tory Care Plans Could Leave Councils Millions in Debt
24-May-2017 An expert on social care believes the Tories’ care proposals could leave Local Authorities millions in debt. Luke Clements, Professor of Law and Social Justice at Leeds University, believes that Councils will have to demand extra funding from the Treasury to cover the cost of allowing care fees to be deferred until death. Professor […]
Helping Your Child to Buy
7-April-2017 With climbing house prices and more stringent mortgage criteria, it’s no wonder that more children than ever before are having to rely on the bank of Mum and Dad – or the bank of Granddad and Grandma. According to the Social Mobility Commission, over 30% of first time buyers are dependent on gifts from […]
£50,000 for Daughter Who Was Cut Out of Mother’s Will
27-March-2017 Last week the Supreme Court ruled against a daughter who challenged her mother’s right to leave her entire estate to animal charities. The case concerned Heather Ilott who took action after her mother, who had died in 2004, left the majority of her £486,000 estate to three animal charities. The daughter had been estranged […]
Triple Death Taxes Hit the Grieving
22-March-2017 The death of a loved one can often lead to financial hardship for their partner and family, particularly if there are young children to support. It may therefore come as a surprise that the Government plans to introduce yet further measures that will hit those already struggling to cope with their loss. Widowed Parent’s […]
Financial Advisers Praying on Vulnerable People
9-March-2017 While those with dementia need financial support more than those without, there are no rules to prevent financial advisers from selling products to them. Advisers are entitled to contact those suffering from dementia or other conditions common in old age, advertise their products and sign up new clients, regardless of their mental health. Last […]
Hike in Probate Fees to Go Ahead
6-March-2017 The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the fees charged for probate on some estates will increase by nearly £20,000. The Government recently concluded a consultation on the matter which saw less than 2% of respondents in favour of the increase. Just 13 of the 831 respondents to the consultation backed the proposals, and […]
Surge in Deals for First Time Buyers
3-March-2017 There are more first time buyer deals available today compared with five years ago according to business analytics service Moneyfacts – but getting on the housing ladder is still a challenge. First time buyers with a 5% deposit have some 276 deals across 53 different lenders to choose from which includes most of the […]
Tougher Penalties for Drivers Who Drive and Use a Mobile Phone
1-March-2017 New rules come into force today aimed at curbing the use of mobile phones while driving. Anyone caught tweeting, filming, or talking on a hand-held device while driving face six points on their licence and a £200 fine. Newly qualified drivers risk having their licence revoked if they accrue six points within two years […]
Buy-to-Let Landlords Find a Lending Loophole
27-February-2017 Buy-to-let landlords have found a way around strict new rules that restrict how much they can borrow – by taking a lengthier loan. The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority set out the stricter lending rules in September of last year and these were implemented by lenders in January. Lenders now require that landlords […]
Magnetic Brain Training Can Slow Down Alzheimers
17-February-2017 A new type of therapy has been shown to be effective in treating Alzheimer’s for patients in the early or middle stages of the disease. The “NeuroAD” therapy, developed by Neuronix, involves ‘magnetic brain-training’ and is thought to help patients forge new pathways around the damaged areas in the brain. A series of studies […]
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