With the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicting the UK economy will expand by 0.8% this year, and by 1.9% in 2025, Jeremy Hunt delivered his last Spring Budget ahead of the General Election, highlighting reforms aimed to ensure the tax system is simple, fair, keeps pace with economic developments, and supports public finances. Expectations […]
Author archives: matthew
Residential Property Review – March 2024
RICS responds to the Spring Budget The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released a statement in response to the Spring Budget. On 6 March, the Chancellor announced that twenty more towns will join the Long-Term Plan for Towns, each receiving £20m. RICS was supportive of this investment, as well as the government’s deeper […]
Commercial Property Review – March 2024
Commercial property industry largely disappointed by the Spring Budget The Chancellor’s Spring Budget has been mostly met with disappointment from the commercial property industry, with many experts left wanting a stronger financial commitment to the sector’s development. Jeremy Hunt announced that Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR) on Stamp Duty Land Tax in England and Northern Ireland will […]
House number 13 – unlucky or not?
A recent study1 suggests that some Brits are superstitious, as homes numbered 13 are valued lower than the average property. Over 10 million houses have been analysed, each with a door number between 1–100. It seems many homeowners would like to be number one, as the first house on the street is worth the most […]
The financial pitfalls that primarily affect women
Research1 has shone a spotlight on the financial challenges that prevent women from accumulating the same wealth as their male counterparts. The report found that having children continues to have a disproportionately large impact on women’s finances, as do other life events such as the menopause. The findings Amongst the report’s findings were the following […]
The sophisticated scammers targeting YOU
According to a study from NatWest1, seven in 10 people have been targeted by scams over the last 12 months. Vulnerabilities brought on by cost-of-living challenges have likely contributed to the high numbers. Sadly, 13% of people have fallen prey to such scams, which are growing in both number and sophistication – targeting young and […]
Spring Budget 2024
On 6 March, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his Spring Budget to the House of Commons declaring it was “a Budget for long-term growth.” The fiscal update included a number of new policy measures, such as a widely-anticipated reduction in National Insurance, abolition of the non-dom tax status and new savings products designed […]
Living the retirement dream
Research1 has revealed that the ultimate retirement dream is actually very simple – financial security for the rest of your life. This is according to a survey1, which questioned 2,000 respondents aged 50 and over on their aspirations for later life. Hopes and dreams Nearly all the respondents to the survey (94%) said that financial […]
Economic Review – February 2024
Survey suggests recession already over Official statistics released last month showed the UK economy fell into recession during the second half of last year, although more recent survey data does suggest the recession could already be over. The latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the economy […]
Residential Property Review – February 2024
Positive start to the year for the housing market Increased demand from buyers and sellers is helping to get the housing market back on track this year. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the data on new buyer enquiries is consistent with a gradual recovery which shows a 7% uptick in January, […]
