The UK has long been a famously home-loving nation. Under the current circumstances, that’s probably just as well. One of the many and varied consequences of COVID19 is that it has led to people reassessing their homes. In many cases, they have taken, or intend to take, steps to improve them. Unsurprisingly, budget-friendly changes seem […]
Mortgage
The Stamp Duty holiday, who wins, who loses?
With the UK now, finally, moving out of lockdown, a lot of questions will inevitably be asked about it. Some will be largely academic while others will be purely practical. Arguably one of the most pressing questions of all is the question of how we cover the bill for the last few months. Could the […]
New 5% Deposits for First Time Buyers?
It’s four years until the UK is next due to have a general election, but it seems like campaigning is starting early. Speaking at the annual Conservative conference, Boris Johnson announced the introduction of 5% deposits for first-time buyers. He did not, however, given any details of how this would work. A new name for […]
Is July a sign of good things to come?
It takes a lot to bring the UK’s housing market to a halt, but COVID19 managed it. With lockdown in place, mortgage approvals slowed to a trickle. May was the worst-hit month with just over 9,000 approvals. Fortunately, the housing market has been picking up since then with just under 40,000 approvals in June and […]
Are You a Manager in the Bank of Mum and Dad?
If you’re a manager in the Bank of Mum and Dad, then you may have some serious thinking to do if one (or more) of your children wants to buy a property and needs your help. Harsh as it may sound, it may be in everyone’s best interests for you to consider the situation in […]
Capital Gains Tax Comes under Review
It probably comes as a surprise to nobody that taxes are under review. While the Coronavirus-relief measures were often welcomed, it was clear, even at the time, that they were almost certainly going to work out to be very expensive. Now, the physical effects of the virus are, broadly, under control. That means it’s time […]