Conwy in South Wales and Bradford are in second and third place with price rises of 37 per cent and 36 per cent respectively. David Blake from Which? Mortgage Advisers, said: ‘For a first-time buyer or a buy-to-let investor, these up and coming areas can provide an affordable alternative to buying in an already established area.’
Less welcome is a proposal from Policy Exchange. Ahead of the Budget on March 16, the thinktank says that an £800 pollution tax should be put on sales of new diesel cars, with the proceeds used for a scrappage scheme for older diesels. Implementing this measure would encourage motorists to move towards lower emission vehicles and significantly reduce air pollution, Policy Exchange says.
If you’re a fan of the glut of antique shows on TV then you might want to rummage around in your own attic. A study from Direct Line Home Insurance says that more than two in five Brits own vintage or antique items. However, the insurer warns that 41 per cent do not list valuable items on their home insurance. It goes on to say that many people are failing on basic protection measures such as keeping receipts for major purchases (46 per cent don’t) or photographing their home contents (85 per cent).
The findings also suggest that many householders could be harbouring more valuable items than they realise. Almost a fifth admit they have items they suspect are worth a small fortune, but have never had valued. Katie Lomas, head of Direct Line Home Insurance, said: ‘We urge people to regularly value their contents and make sure they are comprehensively insured on a policy that protects the full value of their prized possessions. For many the impact of under-insurance is only realised when it’s too late, but this is preventable.’
Meanwhile, a debt management group has been banned from operating after the City regulator found it lacks the staff or expertise to help customers struggling with their finances. The Financial Conduct Authority first told PDHL that its licence application had been rejected in December, but the debt manager appealed against the finding.
Finally, brace yourself for the news that more than one in five adults spends up to £20 on outfits for their pets each month, the highest monthly expenditure after food and grooming. According to a survey by comparethemarket.com, pet owners spend more than £10 billion a year on their dogs and £8 billion on cats. The average pet owner spends nearly £1,150 a year caring for their animals, equating to around £95 per month. But 70 per cent of pets owned in the UK to not have insurance because their owners think it is too expensive. The mind boggles.
Join The Spectator at the Budget Briefing with Andrew Neil, Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.
16 March 2016 | The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG Book now. Details here.
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