-
Access to finance continues to be a critical issue when it comes to encouraging businesses to grow, one expert has claimed. David Frost, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, noted the government is "absolutely right" to try and...
-
Companies are not being left with sufficient time to prepare for the phasing out of the default retirement age (DRA), one expert has claimed. John Cridland, Confederation of British Industry deputy director-general, added a number of firms will be left with...
-
Businesses believe the emergency Budget struck the right balance between spending cuts and tax rises, newly-released figures have shown.
A survey carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found 64% of those questioned thought...
-
A new paper aimed at improving access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) has been launched by the government.
Titled Financing a Private Sector Recovery, the publication includes a number of options that may help...
-
Small businesses are wasting time trying to deal with an overly complicated tax system, it has been suggested.
Andrew Hubbard, immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, observed there are many inconsistencies in...
-
Stamp duty breaks for first-time buyers remains a popular measure, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
In its latest Housing Market Survey, the group found 89% of Britons are in favour of extending the...
-
Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP), the trade body for equity release companies, has suggested the market is adapting as current providers move to fill the void left by those who stopped trading in the last year. Several of the group's members reported strong...
-
Half a million working families are set to lose more than £1,000 a year in tax credit allowances, according to a recent report from the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The emergency Budget announced on 22 June outlined tariff changes,...
-
The government should be doing more so that first-time buyers can enter the property market, it has been suggested. Katy John, press officer for PricedOut.org.uk - national campaign for affordable house prices - noted young people have had to deal with...
-
Gross mortgage lending in June was up 15% on the previous four weeks and 7% on the same period in 2009, reveals the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Last month, the total number of house purchase loans approved stood at £13.1 billion, an increase from...
-
A number of MPs are concerned by the perceived lack of regulation when it comes to the letting market, it has been revealed. More than 60 of the elected politicians have signed an early day motion in response to the government's decision to abandon the plans...
-
Now might be a good time for individuals to start up their own business, as one industry specialist argues recessions can provide "good opportunities" for entrepreneurs who are able to spot a gap in the market. Kathleen Hall of SmallBusiness.co.uk...
-
Ordinary homeowners will be among those adversely affected if interest rates are to rise in the near future, according to one specialist. Chris Jenkins, co-owner of the Homeowners Advice Centre, claims an increase in the base rate would mean many mortgages...
-
The sale of annuities is not being regulated properly by the Financial Services Authority, one expert has claimed. Dr Ros Altman, a pensions specialist, noted consumers have been "badly let down" by the system. She added individuals may be sold...
-
The lack of supply of rental properties is getting worse, it has been revealed. Research carried out by the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) revealed 70% of member offices have more tenants than homes. This is an increase from the figure of...
-
Demand for property in the UK is rising, despite mortgage lenders continuing to place restrictions on the availability of finance. That is the suggestion of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), which found the number of prospective buyers is on...
-
Tax credit claimants have been urged to fill in their forms soon. According to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), those who do not complete the proper documentation by the July 31 deadline will not be entitled to receive anything. Steve Lamey, director of...
-
Certain people will find it hard to get a mortgage due new measures being brought in, an expert has claimed. Ray Boulger, a specialist in the field, was speaking after the Financial Services Authority (FSA) announced plans that will make it harder for...
-
A further ten schemes joined the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) in June, taking the total number of pension plans included in the fund to 160. The move means 937 people in the UK are either currently receiving compensation or will be entitled to do so in the...
-
The provision of low-cost homeownership is at a difficult stage, it has been suggested According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, pressure on bodies to provide this type of dwelling is not going to slow down any time soon. The institution noted the area...
-
Plans announced by the government concerning private sector pensions will have a considerable impact on the finances of retirees, it has been claimed. Recently, the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition released details of proposals to shift the measure of...
-
In order to avoid unfortunate surprises, consumers must ensure they are in control of their mortgages. This was the message delivered by regional manager for the Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) Mary Graham, who said it is important to be in the...
-
Pensions in the public sector cannot continue as they are, it has been suggested. According to pensions analyst Laith Khalaf, the government must decide whether it wants to reduce the benefits it offers workers or raise taxes to cope with their growing cost....
-
Public sector pensions are stuck in a "time warp", one expert has observed. Dr Ros Altman, an independent policy adviser, noted there is a lack of transparency in the system, as taxpayers have not been told the "true costs" associated...
-
First-time buyers may find it difficult to get onto the housing market because of their credit score, one expert has claimed. Property expert Ray Boulger noted by definition, they will not have built up a long enough credit history to prove they can handle...
