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The property outlook for landlords remains somewhat contradictory. On the one hand, rents increased by 5% across the UK in the year to May 2023, but set against this, property prices continue to fall, with many sellers having to discount by 5% or more to secure a sale. Mortgage costs remain high, with the rate […]

Capital gains tax raised £16.7 billion in 2021/22, according to HMRC – a 15% increase over the previous year. But what lies behind these statistics?         In early August media outlets reported that the government had raised a record amount of capital gains tax (CGT) last year. There was no doubting the […]

Is Downing Street really planning to abolish inheritance tax?    Shortly before the so-called ‘silly season’ (Parliament’s summer recess) got underway, several newspapers carried stories that Downing Street was considering the abolition of inheritance tax (IHT) in an attempt to appeal to certain voters. The speculation did not last for long before the Uxbridge by-election […]

As interest rates continue to rise, we need to consider why.   Cast your mind back to July 2020. Covid-19 was creating massive social and economic disruption, reflected in a Bank of England interest rate of just 0.1% and instant access savings rates were little more than 1%. Three years later, the Bank of England […]

Investment funds come in a variety of formats and acronyms – the differences are worth knowing.  The days of individuals largely owning UK shares have long passed. The latest National Statistics data shows that in 2020, only 12% of shares were held by individuals. One reason behind that level has been the growth of investment […]

You do not have to take your state pension at state pension age.  The current state pension age (SPA) – the earliest age at which you can draw your state pension – is 66. It will be gradually increased to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028. A further rise to 68 is due, probably […]