The UK government has announced this that a new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme aimed at getting First Time Buyers on the property ladder will be launching next month.
Homes England has revealed that applications for the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme – which sees the government lend up to 20% (40% in London) of the cost of your newly-built home – will open on Wednesday 16th December.
First Time Buyers will be able to apply for new build homes, and it will cover the period of 2021 – 2023.
Those ready to get their foot in the housing market will need to provide a deposit of at least 5%, and the mortgage offer must be to the value of 25% or higher in order to make up the remaining amount.
No interest will be charged on the 20% loan for the first five years of owning the home.
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There are also a number of eligibility requirements for the house, which states that it must be newly-built and can cost up to £600,000, and it’s also required that applicants can provide proof of the ability to afford the monthly fee and interest payments.
They must also not own any other properties, and are not permitted to sublet or rent out the property after purchasing it.
Homes can be reserved using the scheme from mid-December, allowing purchasers to collect the keys to move in to their new property from 1st April 2021.
The Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme is due to end on 31st March 2023.
Speaking about the new scheme, Robert Jenrick – Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – said: “The government is providing more ways to help families onto the housing ladder, and provide that life-changing moment when you get the keys to your own home.
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“Alongside First Homes, Shared Ownership and our £12bn investment in affordable housing, our new Help to Buy scheme will help thousands more families take their first step into a home of their own.”
Homebuyers can apply for a Help to Buy: Equity Loan (2021-2023) from 16 December 2020, with a homebuilder registered for the scheme. pic.twitter.com/IcTPzE78VX
Will German – Director of Help to Buy at Homes England – added: “Help to Buy has already helped more than 270,000 people into homeownership and 82% are first-time buyers. We’re pleased we can help homebuyers with smaller deposits to own a home, at a time when there are fewer options open to them.
“Housing, like most sectors, has experienced a slowdown during the COVID crisis, but Help to Buy continues to give homebuilders the confidence to keep on building at a more crucial time than ever.”
Those planning on utilising the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme are encouraged to note that Homes England will then have an entitlement to any proceeds in the future sale of the home, and will seek to take the same percentage of the profits as what it originally put in.
You can find more information about the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme via the gov.uk website here.
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Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates
Emily Sergeant
Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.
Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.
But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.
After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)
And lo and behold, it appears that they have.
The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester.
The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.
The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).
“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.
“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights.
“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.
“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.
“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”
Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)
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Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
19th November 2020 
