Upcoming changes to Buy to Let EPC Rating requirements The Government has announced that they are changing the rules surrounding Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Ratings on all properties being let out. This is known as the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES). Although it sounds harmless enough, a large number of properties in the UK
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Economic & Market Outlook – October 2021 In the last few months, we have seen global growth slow down largely due to the potential of inflation across the developed economies, the increasing US debt and the tightening of Chinese internal regulations. This has been compounded by recent economic data which shows that we are
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SPRING BUDGET – March 2021 Following the Spring Budget 2021, please see below a summary of the main financial points: Income tax The Personal Allowance for 2021/22 is increasing to £12,570 and the basic rate band to £37,700 meaning a higher rate threshold of £50,270. These figures will then be frozen until April
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Economic & Market Outlook – January 2021 Happy New Year !!! Coronavirus 2021 has started with another National Lockdown and the accelerated roll out of the Covid-19 Vaccine. We currently have the fastest roll out of this vaccine with the US close behind, although Europe are still yet to approve Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and
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Economic & Market Outlook – December 2020 The likely contrast between 2020 & 2021 With major European economies all experiencing either new nationwide or tiered lockdowns and the US experiencing new records in daily infections, there is no immediate relief from the Covid-19 pandemic in sight. This means that the fourth quarter of
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From record highs in the Stock-markets at the beginning of the year, the Coronavirus pandemic, an event unexpected in its arrival has been unprecedented in its effect. Stock-Markets endured their worst 3-week period in history, while liquidity in the bond markets evaporated. Interest rates were cut to zero and governments in the UK and the
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The US and their impact on Global Markets When it comes to financial markets, perfect vision is impossible. This time last year, markets had endured their worst December since 1970 and investors were bracing themselves for recession. By March, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) had altered its plans for higher interest rates to counter slowing
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How healthy is the US economy? During the first half of 2019 the US economy grew by just over 2.5% in real terms, slightly ahead of typical estimates for the economy’s potential growth rate of 1.9%. At the same time, the labour market continued to create new jobs with the unemployment rate remaining low at
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Trade Wars Throughout 2019 the rhetoric between the US and China has become more hard line. On the face of it an impasse in trade talks leads to increased tariffs and slower economic growth as the Chinese have decided to take a firmer line in negotiations, reducing the chances of a deal. At some
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Boris Johnson, now leader of the Conservative Party enters Downing Street as the leader of a divided country facing a constitutional crisis. He has to date played hard-ball with the EU, with a ‘do or die’ attitude in respect of the 31 October deadline. As that date approaches, given that he now has the job
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