Our Blog
It happened to him
Don’t let the ‘it won’t happen to me’ approach affect your decision on whether or not to take out critical illness cover. David thought he was a fit, healthy, middle-aged man, with a good exercise regime and diet. He was a keen runner, and had even completed the New...
Is now the right time to fix?
November 2017 saw the Bank of England raise interest rates for the first time in a decade, from 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent, causing a number of lenders to increase their mortgage rates. The Bank of England has indicated there could be further rate rises, so if...
Going, going, gone to the auction!
If you think property auctions are only for professional property developers or investors think again. They can be a great place to pick up a family home. In 2017, some £3,190 million worth of UK residential property was sold at auction, accounting for 21,024...
Major changes in taxation for owners of buy to let properties
Major changes in taxation for owners of buy to let properties are being phased in over the four years starting April 2017. If you own buy to let properties, it’s important to take a look at how these gradual changes may affect you over the next few years in order to...
Freehold or Leasehold – the ins and outs
When buying a property, you can do so either on a leasehold or freehold basis and there are important differences to be aware of before you sign on the dotted line. With a leasehold property you own the property and its land for a fixed period, depending on the...
Spring Statement
March has traditionally been the month for Budgets, but no longer. In Autumn 2016 the then-new Chancellor, Philip Hammond made clear he thought the propensity of previous Chancellors to turn their Autumn Statements into second Budgets was not a good idea and that he...
Let Property Campaign
If you let out a residential property but haven’t declared the rental income, you might be interested in a new campaign from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). HMRC estimates landlords fail to pay £550m every year and their ‘Let Property Campaign’ aims to reclaim the...
Are You Considering Pensions to Get Money Out of Your Company?
New research has suggested that UK’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are optimistic about the global economy and their role in it. If this applies to you and you have built up a healthy balance sheet, you may be considering how you can release money from your...
Is Your Pension Tax Efficient?
Since April 2015, pensioners have had greater freedom over how they manage their retirement savings. No longer forced to buy an annuity, they can now leave their money invested and draw an income from it (known as flexi-access drawdown). Whether you’ve already stopped...
Are You Missing Out on the Advantages of Pension Freedoms?
It can seem like we work our entire lives, but retirement comes faster than you think. The average person works around forty-five years of their life and then relies on a pension for another twenty-five years. That means the money you save towards your pension needs...
