9-March-2017 While those with dementia need financial support more than those without, there are no rules to prevent financial advisers from selling products to them. Advisers are entitled to contact those suffering from dementia or other conditions common in old age, advertise their products and sign up new clients, regardless of their mental health. Last […]

6-March-2017 The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the fees charged for probate on some estates will increase by nearly £20,000. The Government recently concluded a consultation on the matter which saw less than 2% of respondents in favour of the increase. Just 13 of the 831 respondents to the consultation backed the proposals, and […]

1-March-2017 New rules come into force today aimed at curbing the use of mobile phones while driving. Anyone caught tweeting, filming, or talking on a hand-held device while driving face six points on their licence and a £200 fine. Newly qualified drivers risk having their licence revoked if they accrue six points within two years […]

27-February-2017 Buy-to-let landlords have found a way around strict new rules that restrict how much they can borrow – by taking a lengthier loan. The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority set out the stricter lending rules in September of last year and these were implemented by lenders in January. Lenders now require that landlords […]

17-February-2017 A new type of therapy has been shown to be effective in treating Alzheimer’s for patients in the early or middle stages of the disease. The “NeuroAD” therapy, developed by Neuronix, involves ‘magnetic brain-training’ and is thought to help patients forge new pathways around the damaged areas in the brain. A series of studies […]

13-February-2017 The Government’s new white paper, ‘Fixing our broken housing market’, includes proposed initiatives to help the over-55s downsize from under-occupied family homes. It is hoped that by encouraging older people to move to a more suitable property, the initiatives could free up thousands of homes for younger generations. According to research, 3.4 million pensioners’ […]

30-January-2017 The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) – the safety net for savers – has raised its compensation limit from £75,000 to £85,000 for individual accounts and £150,000 to £170,000 on joint accounts. The FSCS was set up under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and became active on 1 December 2001. It provides […]

3-January-2017 During Christmas, many of us spend a little more than we should – and the New Year is the perfect time to get our finances back on track. These 10 financial New Year’s Resolutions are the ideal way to improve your financial fitness for the year ahead. 1. Consider Lisa in April Who on […]

30-December-2016 Changes to tax have hampered the Buy to Let market in the South but for landlords in the North of England the figures still stack up. Changes to stamp duty With the last April’s changes to stamp duty tax, times are tough for buy-to-let investors. Buy to let mortgage lenders are cutting the amount […]

15-December-2016 The elderly are paying lawyers to draw up legal documents that specify they would rather die than have inflated care home fees use up their children’s inheritance. According to a leading law firm, the soaring cost of care is driving many middle-aged couples to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), recording their wish […]

13-December-2016 Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission Andrea Sutcliffe says that almost a third of services are failing what she calls the ‘mum’ test. The Care Quality Commission is an independent organisation that regulates the provision of health and social care in England. The Commission inspects care providers to ensure […]

12-December-2016 Around a quarter of care home residents are now funded in part by ‘top up’ fees because Local Authorities are not paying care homes enough to cover the full cost of care, it has been reported. These additional payments ought to be charged when someone opts for a more expensive home than the Council […]

8-December-2016 Landlords are setting themselves up as limited companies to avoid the government’s new buy-to-let rules that come into force next April. Approximately 11 per cent of the UK’s landlords have established themselves as a limited company in order to pay the lower tax rate on their buy-to-let profits. A further 25 per cent of […]

23-November-2016 Homeowners whose property is in an area at risk of flooding are being denied insurance because their properties have been recorded incorrectly by the same scheme designed to help them. Approximately 350,000 homes could benefit from the Flood Re scheme which was launched in April and backed by the UK Government. The scheme raises […]

18-November-2016 Dementia is now the number one cause of death in England and Wales, overtaking heart disease. 11.6% of deaths now result from the condition – compared with 11.5% for heart disease, according to official figures. Although the detection rate has risen, there is still no cure at this time. The ageing population and rising […]

16-November-2016 A recent report published by the Continuing Healthcare Alliance – ‘Continuing to Care?’ – has criticised how the NHS allocates Continuing Healthcare Funding (CHC). The Alliance – comprising of 13 charities that include the Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK and Parkinson’s UK – has condemned the NHS for subjecting the elderly and sick to a […]

14-November-2016 Soaring rents and falling mortgage payments have meant that it is cheaper to buy a home than to rent one in 13% of the UK, according to Experian. Over the past year, rents have risen across 217 districts, but mortgage payments have fallen in 248. Experian found that in 51 of the 372 Local […]

10-November-2016 With house prices soaring in some areas of the country and some 250,000 homes costing £1 million or more according to Lloyds Bank, first time buyers are facing an ever increasing struggle to get a foot on the housing ladder. The Government’s mortgage guarantee scheme is due to end next month, another blow to […]

11-November-2016 Families who are in rented accommodation could be allowed to buy their homes with a deposit or a mortgage under a new ‘buy as you go’ scheme. The plans from the National Housing Federation are being considered by senior government officials. The Prime Minster Theresa May said housing was a priority as part of […]

10-November-2016 A study by the Imperial College London has revealed that dementia patients are facing unnecessary delays in receiving a diagnosis for dementia at some memory clinics. The delays result from complex and restrictive access criteria to the clinics, according to doctors. Around 850,000 people in Britain suffer from dementia with the number increasing due […]