In a move the government has said will convert “Generation Rent into Generation Buy” new 95 per cent mortgages will be offered on the high street again. Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State For Housing, hailed the introduction of the Government-backed scheme which is designed to both bolster lender confidence and...
Menopausal women may get workplace rights
As part of a comprehensive government review of female health and wellbeing, menopausal women could get new employment protections. Officials are understood to be particularly interested in health issues affecting participation in the workplace by middle-aged women, including depression and anxiety, musculoskeletal conditions, and the menopause. Ministers are appealing for...
Mortgage approvals hit 820,000 as buyers rush to beat Stamp Duty deadline
Purchasers racing to beat the stamp duty holiday deadline put the housing market into overdrive, with more than 820,000 mortgages approved in 2020. The final months of the year added an extra boost to an already-frenzied market and, according to the Bank of England, an extra 103,381 loan applications were...
Covid lifeline for businesses
Following a landmark court ruling hundreds of thousands of businesses hit by coronavirus restrictions could be entitled to an insurance pay-out. In a £1.2bn legal battle that began last year, companies with business interruption insurance policies have been demanding pay-outs for losses suffered when they were forced to shut during...
Corruption laws to be revamped
A new criminal offence of corruption in a public office has been proposed by the legal watchdog to replace the current “outdated” and “unclear” laws that are open to abuse. Prosecutions for misconduct in public office have risen to an average of 80 a year in recent years. The sharp...