Making sure you’re sufficiently insured in your ‘middle years’
Research1 has found that people in their 30s and 40s could be slipping through the net when it comes to protection cover. The data highlights that those in this age bracket are more likely to have inadequate protection cover for their mortgage, should the worst happen. Has your protection caught up? Many people experience significant […]
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News in Review
“Shop prices fell into deflation for the first time in nearly three years” Fashion retailers trying to shift stock through summer sales helped shop prices to record their first annual fall for nearly three years, according to research from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Prices in August were down 0.3% from a year ago, the […]
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Economic Review – August 2024
BoE starts to cut rates In early August, the Bank of England (BoE) sanctioned the first reduction in interest rates since March 2020 and economists expect a second cut to be announced before the end of this year. The closely-run decision was announced on 1 August following the latest meeting of the Bank’s Monetary Policy […]
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Landlords upping their EPC game
Research has found that some landlords are improving the energy performance of their properties even though it is no longer a potential legal requirement. Keen landlords Last year proposed regulations for all private rental properties to have a minimum EPC rating of C were shelved. However, 37% of portfolio landlords are still upgrading their properties […]
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News in Review
“We can get through this together” In a speech from the Downing Street Rose Garden on Tuesday, the Prime Minister told an audience of voters he met along the campaign trail that, while his government may not get everything right, everything it does will be with them in mind. Keir Stamer said he intends to […]
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Residential Property Review – August 2024
First cut in Bank Rate in over four years The Bank of England has reduced Bank Rate for the first time in more than four years. The rate is now 5%, having been held at 5.25% since August 2023, after 14 consecutive increases. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) marginally voted in favour of reducing Bank […]
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Commercial Property Market Review – August 2024
Latest from RICS The commercial property market remained relatively flat in Q2 of this year, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) survey. Tenant and investor demand were both largely stable as headline occupier demand stayed at a net balance of +4% – the same reading as the previous quarter. Investment enquiries […]
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News in Review
“The UK economy has now grown strongly for two quarters” The UK’s economy grew by 0.6% between April and June, according to the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figure released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday. After slipping into recession at the end of last year, analysts now say the UK economy […]
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What you need to know about behavioural investment
Have you ever made an irrational or impulsive purchase you’ve later regretted? We all make decisions based on our emotions or personal biases, but when it comes to investing, such mistakes can be very costly. What is behavioural investment? Behavioural investment is an approach that acknowledges how our emotions and our biases can sometimes make […]
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Buying a new build – what to consider
Are you thinking of buying a new build? The good news is there are more regulations than ever that protect buyers of newly built homes. It can be difficult to keep up with these changes, so here’s what you need to know. Codes of conduct Most developers are signed up to a code which lays […]
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