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Published: 28 July 2020

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Families can now manage their loved ones'finances and wellbeing using a new online service.

A lasting power of attorney is a vital document that appoints a trusted individual to manage your affairs if you are unable to.

But the current paper-based process means it can take weeks to contact organisations, as physical documents need to be posted back and forth.

To reduce delays, the Office of Public Guardian has launched a digital service called 'Use a lasting power of attorney' (gov.uk/opg).

Those acting as an attorney will be provided with a secure code which they must then enter online to confirm their status. Once this is done they will be able to send official documents electronically.

However, experts warn that digitalising the process could lead to arise in financial abuse. Kelly Greig, of law firm Irwin Mitchell, says:'We've been successful in resisting a fully online service and maintaining wet signatures for this very reason; the secure code be open to abuse.'

A Minister of Justice spokesperson says physical signatures are still used to protect vulnerable people.

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Published: 09 July 2020

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A Stamp Duty holiday will save buyers up to £15,000. The tax on the first £500,000 of all property sales has been suspended until March 2021.

The average buyer will make a saving of £4,000, with nine in ten not having to pay duty at all. Those paying £500,000 for a property will save £15,000. The payment holiday comes into effect immediately in England and Northern Ireland.

Mr Sunak said: "Uncertainty abounds in the market - a market we need to be thriving."

Miles Shipside from Rightmove, which saw web traffic leap 22 per cent at the news, said: "We hope this will provide the spur."

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Published: 12 March 2020

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Foreign buyers will be forced to pay more for UK properties under changes to stamp duty.

The Government announced yesterday a 2 per cent surcharge for non-UK residents, saying it would come into effect in April next year. Budget documents said it would 'help to control house price inflation and support UK residents to get on to and move up the housing ladder'.

It is expected to raise £250 million in its first year, but the policy is then expected to cost the Government money for a couple of years before bringing in around £105 million annually from 2023/24.

Money raised will be used to pay for schemes aimed at reducing rough sleeping, the chancellor said.

The changes were proposed in the Conservative Party manifesto for December's election. However Peter Beckett, real estate tax partner at consultancy firm KPMG said: 'Whilst the commitment is to be applauded, the 2 per cent surcharge is not to take effect until April 1st, 2021 so the details are unlikely to have been finalised.'

Daily Mail 12/3/2020

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Published: 11 March 2020

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The bank of England has announced an emergency cut in the base interest rate to shore up the economy during the Coronavirus crisis. 

The cut, from 0.75 per cent to 0.25 per cent, was announced at 7 am on 11/3/2020; it takes borrowing costs back down to the lowest level in history, and may help agents and the housing market following reports of reduced demand and buyers pulling out of viewings.

Interest rate changes are usually announced on on Thursday's after regular meetings of the Bank's monetary policy committee; this morning's shock announcement suggests that the indicators guiding the MPC - including ones relating to the housing market - have shown significant falls even at this early stage of the virus outbreak in the UK.