Find expert help when it comes to short-term letting March 31, 2021 If you’re thinking about relocating, are usually a frequent traveller, or have a second home that is often vacant, short-term rentals could provide a new source of income and enable you to take advantage of the increased freedom to work from anywhere. Since it was formed in 2014, UnderTheDoormat has welcomed over 12,000 guests and [...]
Controversial tax changes will pile burden onto businesses and leave contractors worse off March 31, 2021 Next Tuesday, long-delayed changes to a controversial tax rule will come into force and pile on an additional burden on companies already reeling from the effects of the pandemic. The rule, known as IR35, was originally designed to limit tax avoidance but it has caused dismay for employers and contractors alike. Before now, it has [...]
UK insurers have more work to do on environmental policies March 31, 2021 Insurers in the UK have more work to do on the environmental and social aspects of ESG, though they are global leaders in governance. The UK is underperforming many of its European peers on environmental processes and reporting across a number of areas, research by Big Four consultancy firm EY has found. EY carried out [...]
Financial Ombudsman Service branded ‘unfit for purpose’ March 31, 2021 The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is “unfit for purpose” and needs “major reform”, according to a damning new report published by think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The IEA said the FOS is “failing to delivery on its primary objectives of ‘providing fair and reasonable resolution of disputes at speed’”, the think tank [...]
Vigilance is the key to calling crypto markets – there is no black box March 30, 2021 Dr Chris Kacher explains the major market risks, but stresses that vigilance is the key to cracking cryptocurrency markets.
China tightens grip on Hong Kong as it limits parliament to ‘patriots’ March 30, 2021 China has passed new laws slashing the number of directly-elected politicians to Hong Kong’s parliament, further tightening Beijing’s control over the financial hub. The changes will almost halve the number of representatives who are directly elected and increase the number of Beijing-approved officials. The overhaul is intended to ensure that only “patriots” can rule the [...]
English football clubs turn to MetLife for £117.5m loan after baulking at Bank of England emergency funding conditions March 30, 2021 Championship football clubs have chosen to take a £117.5m loan from US insurer MetLife instead of the Bank of England’s emergency Covid-19 support scheme. The English Football League (EFL), which represents clubs in the second, third and fourth divisions, said it rejected the Bank of England loan due to the conditions imposed. Teams in the [...]
What 175 years of data tell us about house price affordability in the UK March 29, 2021 What we’ve learned from nearly 200 years of housing data – and is property really a better investment than a pension? We dug into the treasure trove that is the Bank of England’s Millennium of data resource to analyse the history of house prices. We found that the average house in the UK currently costs more than [...]
Tory peer Lord Marland ‘in the running’ to chair competition watchdog March 29, 2021 Tory grandee Lord Marland is said to be in the running to become the next chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in what could be the latest political appointment by Boris Johnson. Lord Marland, a former Conservative minister, is one of several names being circulated at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial [...]
Cycle to work for a Covid-secure commute March 29, 2021 This summer, many people will be donning suits and heels again as offices open up to employees. After more than a year of working from home, the prospect of a change of environment, and time spent face-to-face with colleagues rather than on Zoom, will be refreshing and motivating. Navigating the daily commute might be a [...]