Topic: All News

Pension tax relief threshold could be lowered still further

Posted on August 17, 2009 by - All News, Financial News

Higher rate taxpayers should talk to us now

If you are a higher rate taxpayer it may be prudent to talk to us sooner rather than later about your retirement planning provision, following remarks made by the government’s pensions spokesman, Lord McKenzie. He refused recently to allay the concerns of individuals earning below £150,000 that they may also see their ability to claim income tax relief on pension contributions restricted by lowering still further the threshold announced during Budget 2009.

Landlords buying more properties

Posted on August 17, 2009 by - All News

Quarterly survey revealed a “bounce back” in the buy-to-let market

Landlords have been buying more properties in the last quarter according to a recent survey. The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) quarterly survey revealed a “bounce back” in the buy-to-let market.

Investing in property

Posted on August 17, 2009 by - All News

Make sure your figures add up

The British love affair with property investing has been very evident over the past decade and despite a tougher market, those looking to get into the market should beware of easy buy-to-let deals and still make sure their investment meets a strict checklist, or dreams of property riches may turn into financial disaster.

Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance

Posted on August 17, 2009 by - All News

Covering your monthly mortgage payments for a specified period – your questions answered.

If you fall behind with your mortgage repayments and cannot catch up again, you could eventually lose your home. But you can take steps to protect yourself against this risk by taking out Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI).

Checklist for investing landlords

Posted on August 17, 2009 by - All News

A range of issues to consider before entering the residential lettings market

This checklist is an introduction to buy-to-let highlighting the types of questions you should be asking yourself before buying a property to let out. It is not intended as an exhaustive list, merely an introduction for new buy-to-let investors, to a range of issues they should consider before entering the residential lettings market for the first time.

Home Information Packs

Posted on August 17, 2009 by - All News

“Stunting market recovery”

The Home Information Pack (HIP) is
being blamed for “stunting market recovery” according to estate agents. The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) in a recent survey reported that of its members, ten per cent of agents believed the number of sellers would double if HIPs were suspended.

Housing private finance initiative

Posted on August 17, 2009 by - All News

Government allocates £1.7bn for new homes

The Housing Minister John Healey recently announced £1.7bn funding to build 11,200 new homes and regenerate 10 of the most deprived areas of the country. Ten local authorities in six regions are to receive the cash under the housing private finance initiative (PFI) in order to allow them to deliver 4,500 new or improved council homes and 1,600 new affordable rented homes.