UK growth forecast upgraded The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sharply increased this year’s growth forecast for the UK, although recent data does suggest the country’s strong economic rebound has begun to slow down. In its latest assessment of global economic prospects, the IMF highlighted a worrying divergence in fortunes between rich and poor nations, due to differing access to Read More
Residential Property Review – July 2021
Building Safety Bill published Claiming “the biggest changes to building safety in nearly 40 years“, Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said that the Building Safety Bill will set out a clear pathway for the future as to how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained. The Bill was published on 5 July to set out new and more stringent requirements for Read More
Commercial Property Market Review – July 2021
Moratorium on commercial evictions extended The government has announced an extension to the moratorium on commercial eviction due to rent arrears until 25 March 2022. The scheme has been extended to give hospitality businesses and nightclubs, which have operated under restrictions for the entirety of the pandemic, and which came under increasing pressure when the planned 21 June date for Read More
Is IHT change on the cards?
It’s been three years since then-Chancellor Philip Hammond asked the Office of Tax Simplification to look into potential amendments to the Inheritance Tax (IHT) regime1. Since then, no changes have been made to the tax incurred when wealth passes onto the next generation; could Rishi Sunak be the one to take up the mantle once more?2 A significant, pandemic-shaped deficit Read More
Economic Review June 2021
MPC maintains monetary stance Following its latest meeting held on 22 June, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) judged that the existing monetary stance remains appropriate, despite inflation rising above the Bank of England’s target level. Data released last month by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month rate – which compares prices in the Read More
Residential Property Review – June 2021
Renting less expensive than buying a property Research from estate agency Hamptons, suggests that renters are better off than buyers for the first time in five years. The study found that, just prior to the pandemic in March 2020, the average buyer with a 10% deposit was better off than renters by £102 per month. In May 2021, however, buyers Read More
Commercial Property Market Review – June 2021
Shopping centres on the brink In another blow to the ailing retail sector, research from Local Data Company (LDC) has revealed that potentially 70 of Britain’s 700 shopping centres are in line for demolition. In a sector already negatively impacted by the rise in online retail, rising costs and changing habits, the fact that most centres are inside facilities and Read More
Pandemic leads to growing ESG awareness
The inclusion of ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues within mainstream investment strategies has been gaining in prominence during the pandemic, according to new research – and it’s a trend that’s set to continue. The global rise of ESG – a megatrend here to stay ESG investment has been increasingly catching the interest of investors across the globe for several Read More
