Council tax reform would help 'level up' north of England

Bills could fall by 20% if system mirrored house price growth over past 30 years, says IFS

More than 10m households would benefit from lower council tax bills if the government reformed the “arbitrary and unfair” annual property charge to reflect the growing divide between London and the south-east and the rest of England.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said average bills across most of the Midlands and north would fall by more than 20%, with more modest falls across much of the south-west and parts of east England should ministers introduce a system more aligned with house price growth over the past 30 years.

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Jenrick announces coronavirus law to ban eviction of tenants

Emergency legislation will protect renters for three months, housing secretary says

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Private tenants will not be evicted from their homes for at least three months even if struggling with their rent under emergency coronavirus legislation announced by the housing secretary.

Robert Jenrick said new laws would ban landlords from evicting tenants, following days of pressure by campaigners and tenants’ unions who had warned that tens of thousands of households could be made homeless because they could not afford rent.

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It's time to move mountains to protect people – we need universal basic income | Rebecca Long-Bailey

After moving to reassure businesses first, the government must offer support for renters and workers, says the Labour leadership contender

For many in Britain, quite how radically our lives will be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic is yet to fully sink in. The government has already moved to reassure businesses with emergency measures – but a growing number of workers are waiting for comparable support. The policies already announced might help workers indirectly, for example if businesses take out government-backed loans to keep their staff on the payroll, or if landlords take advantage of the moratorium on mortgage payments to suspend demands for rent. But both of these would amount to trickle-down support at the whims of bosses and property-owners – rather than a condition of state support.

Already the government appears aware of the shortcomings of its initial economic response, hinting that direct support for renters and workers is on the way. So it seems as relevant as ever to argue that now is not the time for tinkering around the edges, but for big ideas. The chancellor ditched Tory economic orthodoxy to help business through this crisis, so he must be prepared to do the same for workers and the self-employed.

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The back door fell out and we can’t shower in our new rental

The shower is scaldingly hot; it took two days for our landlord’s agent to replace our missing door

My partner and I signed a £900 rental agreement on a house three months ago. It was described by the letting agents, Connells, as a having a bath and a separate shower. On the first day we found out that the shower dispenses scalding water only – and is therefore dangerous and unusable – and we immediately reported it to Connells. We had several visits from a plumber before it was concluded that the whole unit needed to be replaced.

Nothing has happened since.

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Seven steps to a successful student rental Nottingham Estate Agents

Worried about renting your first student property? OnTheMarket agent Sugarhouse Properties recommends seven steps to make it a stress-free process For students looking to move into private rented accommodation for the first time, the experience can often seem daunting. By doing some research and preparation beforehand, you can make the process much more straightforward. If you’re […]

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UK banks set out details of Covid-19 mortgage holidays

Households hit by coronavirus will not lose credit ratings if they delay payments

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Britain’s banks have revealed how they are going to implement Rishi Sunak’s promise of “payment holidays” of up to three months.

In guidance issued after the chancellor pledged mortgage support for households affected by the coronavirus, UK Finance, the trade body for the major banks, set out how households can apply.

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A guide to choosing the right property survey Nottingham Estate Agents

Should you choose a homebuyer’s or a full structural survey? Here Fine & Country explain the importance of home surveys and what’s available You’ve found the home of your dreams but before you get swept away, it’s important to ensure the property is not going to crumble around you. People are often seduced by the way a […]

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