New Mortgage Guarantee Scheme Boost to First Time Buyers Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced that he is launching a new mortgage guarantee scheme designed to help first-time buyers with a 5% deposit. The aim is to stimulate the housing market and enable more younger people onto the housing ladder. Mortgages with 5% deposits have been stopped by most banks during the Covid pandemic. The...
On Wednesday 3rd March, our Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be taking to the dispatch box to deliver his next budget. We will then receive confirmation as to whether the stamp duty holiday will be extended by three months- as reported in this week’s papers. Subject to the details, this will Help those people who have agreed to buy a home but are struggling to get things finalised in time due to backlogs...
Five Everyday Things on Our Post-Lockdown To-Do List We list the five simple things we’re looking forward to when lockdown lifts in this two-minute read. With the end to lockdown now in sight, it’s impossible not to think excitedly ahead to spring and summer. We know we won’t be able to do everything all at once – but we can live with that. There are so many simple things that we’ve missed over...
2021 Paint Trends: Why Magnolia is Out, and Dead Salmon is in! In this three-minute read, we look at the paint colours that are making a splash in 2021. For millions of Brits, getting through this pandemic has been a case of “Keep Calm and Carry On with DIY”. To stop themselves from climbing the walls from boredom and frustration, they’ve turned to painting them. As a result, DIY chains such as B&Q...
Nine Random Acts That Will Sprinkle Joy and Positivity inLondon In this two-minute read, we look at how a simple random act of kindness can start a tsunami of positive vibes. Many people are going through a dark time right now, but there is a way you could make at least one person’s day a little brighter. As this week is Random Acts of Kindness Week, why not surprise and delight someone with a small,...
The Top Five Renovation MistakesLondonHomeowners Should Avoid In this two-minute read, we look at the home renovations that don’t add value – and can make it harder to sell your property. If there’s a chance you could sell yourLondonhome in the next few years, think before you rush into making any major home renovations. While you might read about celebrities investing in fancy wine cellars (David...
The UK government this week announced a further £3.5bn of funding to fix high rise apartment blocks with cladding issues and have said they are going to tax large developers with two new taxes to raise £2bn towards the cost. Campaigners have said that it is too little, as the real cost is likely to be much higher. The government are restricting the fund to buildings over 18m – the only ones affected...
The turn of the year was an uncertain prospect for the property market. The Brexit transition period coming to an end, a third national lockdown announced and greater travel restrictions imposed, many of us were wondering when we returned on the 4th of January how the market would fair and whether the high sales volume of Q4 were going to spill over into the new year. The industry was certainly anxious...
During the most recent lockdown, when schools were again advised to close and for pupils to work from home, it became apparent that not every child has access to their own device. Often families only have one suitable device to share amongst a number of children, and this will mean they will miss out on vital learning. We've been raising money since January to provide Computers For Kids around London and...
Three Stories to Get You in the Mood for Valentine’s Day In this two-minute read, we share three stories that shine a light on affairs of the heart in the lead up to Valentine’s Day on Sunday. Lockdown celebrations One thing star-crossed lovers inLondondon’t have to worry about this Valentine’s Day is bagging a reservation at a candle-lit restaurant. In “normal times”, even the most mediocre...