Energy efficiency: how to make your house more efficient

March 22nd, 2017 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Home Improvements | Comments Off on Energy efficiency: how to make your house more efficient

At the end of 2015 the Daily Mail asked a simple question: Has Britain created the most efficient home?The four-bedroom home described in the piece allegedly cost a total of £15 a year to power – including heating, lighting, cooking and water – thanks to a pump for pulling in heat, solar panelling, triple glazing and other insulation.

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Accountants call for clarity over scrapping of class 2 NICs

February 6th, 2017 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in News, Press Releases | Comments Off on Accountants call for clarity over scrapping of class 2 NICs

Top 40 accountants Bishop Fleming are calling on the government to be open and honest about its plans to reform National Insurance Contributions (NICs) paid by the self-employed.
The firm fears that the promised £145 a year saving for the self-employed from the scrapping of Class 2 NICs in April 2018 will be cancelled out by a corresponding tax rise. Whilst some will be better off, many could face an effective tax rise of up to 2%

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M&G Real Estate installs largest shopping centre solar panel system in UK

January 26th, 2017 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, News, Property Developers | Comments Off on M&G Real Estate installs largest shopping centre solar panel system in UK

M&G Real Estate, one of the UK’s largest property investors, has announced that it will install the UK’s largest shopping centre solar panel system on the roof of The Galleries shopping centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

The system will comprise 1,317 individual photovoltaic panels, covering an area of 41,000 sq ft – equivalent to a professional football pitch – on an otherwise unused part of the centre. New technology to save 165 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually

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Planning Applications for Home Improvements – What’s Hot and What’s Not

January 19th, 2017 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Improvements, Housing Policy, Property Market | Comments Off on Planning Applications for Home Improvements – What’s Hot and What’s Not

In the latest house price index, it was revealed that property in the UK had seen an annual price increase of 6.7%, with the average property now valued at £217,928. Naturally, with a rise in house prices will come an increase in home improvements. Recently, home services marketplace, Plentific.com, ran a survey which found that 1 in 3 renovate their property with the aim of increasing its value. As such, whether buying a new property or updating their current one, many homeowners will plan to renovate to take advantage of the increasing value. Consequently, many areas will see an increased rate of householder development planning applications being submitted to the government. Through these statistics, we can see the latest trends of home improvements in different regions across the UK.

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Canyon Bikes lose Christmas Cheer; profit rules

December 20th, 2016 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in News | Comments Off on Canyon Bikes lose Christmas Cheer; profit rules

So after detailing last week how Canyon Bikes sold me wheels they decided they no wanted to supply in various places across the internet. For eg my open Facebook post to Canyon (which they were asked to comment on) after they deleted my comments on their Facebook page which obviously didn’t fit in with the image they are trying to portray; lets be honest they are doing a good job on the marketing front and I know many are tempted. However, marketing and spin is one thing but backing those claims up are where from my experience they are lacking.

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The Year That Was: PCL prices hold but transactions plummet

December 19th, 2016 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Buying Property, News, Selling Property | Comments Off on The Year That Was: PCL prices hold but transactions plummet

2016 proved a challenging year for the Prime Central London (PCL) property market. The past 12 months not only witnessed a marked slowdown in sales activity as Stamp Duty changes dramatically affected sentiment, but uncertainty has been a recurring theme, both before and following the UK’s Brexit vote.

With the headwinds it has been encountering, this year has seen the PCL market fragment with different dynamics driving the performance of property at the lower end and the luxury end. This has created a watershed at £1m, above which tax is having the most significant effect on investor decisions.

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Canyon Bikes,12 days of selling stuff they can not fulfill

December 15th, 2016 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Guest Articles, News | 2 Comments »

Canyon Fail!! Back to old tricks or did it stop?

I bought Mavic pro carbon sl wheels and a cassette on Monday from Canyon’s 12 days of Christmas sale. I completed the transaction and checked out and entered card details. Great I thought, Merry Christmas to me. I am recovering from surgery to my back and not able to ride at present, so it was a great pick me up and something to look forward to.

The reduction in the sale price was good, RRP now of said wheels is about £1600 and I paid just over £800 for wheels and a cassette. This is a big purchase for me and not something I take lightly. Looking around on tinternet, they are fairly new model I wasn’t going to find anywhere else at this time at that price. I can hear my dad whispering as I type…. ‘Son, it it is too good to be true… it normally is…’  How apt. Was this a sale or PR? I can only wonder.

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Legal providers to publish prices online to help people moving house

December 15th, 2016 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Housing Policy, Press Releases | Comments Off on Legal providers to publish prices online to help people moving house

MOVING house requires specialist advice- now the CMA is making it easier for you to find a suitable legal provider.

Relocating or buying for the first time are some of the most stressful times in life, so it’s essential that you have the right legal advice to rely on when you need it most.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has conducted a market study into legal services and found that home buyers and those moving house often don’t have the information they need at hand to make the right decision.

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U.K. letting agents save landlords nearly £2k every year

December 15th, 2016 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in News, Press Releases, Property Market | Comments Off on U.K. letting agents save landlords nearly £2k every year

UK landlords surveyed who use a letting agent estimate that they save £1910 a year more than if they marketed directly to tenants, according to research by Endsleigh, one of the country’s leading specialist insurance providers for letting agents, landlords and young professionals.

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Energy savings in the kitchen

July 4th, 2016 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Top Tips | 1 Comment »

The kitchen is the hub of the household. What with preparing and cooking meals, and often eating them too, as well as washing up and popping the kettle on for a cup of tea, it’s where most of the action is, and where a large proportion of household energy goes. Here are a few ways to cut down on energy use in the kitchen without compromising on a cosy, good-looking room, or tasty meals.

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The truth about remodeling with solar

June 3rd, 2016 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Home Improvements, Property Market | Comments Off on The truth about remodeling with solar

Previously, we talked about how to survive remodeling your home. We gave advice on what you should do during remodeling, what to expect when you decide to stay at home during the renovation period, and what to see in your kitchen in the early hours of the morning. Today, we’re also going to talk about remodeling but not the usual overhaul that most families undertake after living in the same house for several decades. This time, it’s about remodeling your house before installing solar panels.

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