If you’re one of our student tenants, you may well be one of approximately 1.5m young people who are eligible to vote in the coming general election for the first time.  Here’s everything you need to know about voting in the general election. How to register to vote, how to vote on the day or before, who to vote for, what to expect in the poling both. Key Dates 18th June 2024: Register to vote before midnight! 19th June 2024: Apply to vote by post (if for the first time) 4th July 2024: Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm for you to vote in person. Registering To Vote First thin ..read more

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has today announced that a General Election will be held on Thursday, 4th July 2024, meaning Parliament will be dissolved next Thursday, 30th May. Inflation for April has just been announced at 2.3%, the lowest in three years, leading to heightened expectations of a reduction in interest rates, which will positively impact many who have been subjected to the squeeze on their finances caused by the cost-of-living crisis. Rishi Sunak obviously thinks this is his best possible chance of winning an election, despite being 23% behind Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party ..read more

Bristol City Council have published their new fees for Mandatory HMO Licence applications and renewals for the 24/25 financial year, starting 6th April 2024. New licence applications for a 5 bed property will increase from £1,420 per property to £1,886, an extraordinary 33% increase. Renewal applications for a 5 bed property will increase by 42% from £1,100 to £1,564. Additional charges are payable for each household over 5, this will stay the same at £50 per additional household. Both discounts for presenting valid safety certificates within the required three month window , and the rent wit ..read more

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt presented his spring budget 2024 on March 6th. Along side the 2p drop in employees national insurance rate there were three stand out policies which will affect property investors: 1. Capital Gains Tax Is it certain? Yes When will it happen? 6th April 2024 Which property sales a “3.28 The government will implement a change to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to support the housing market. The higher rate of CGT for residential property disposals will be cut from 28% to 24%. The lower rate will remain at 18% for any gains that fall within an individual’s basic rate band ..read more

Purple Frog Asset Management proudly welcomes Kate Gregory, a distinguished property expert, to its team. With an impressive career spanning nearly 25 years across three countries, Kate joins us as our Asset Management Director where she will oversee the letting and management teams across the company. A Remarkable Journey With an illustrious career spanning three countries, Kate brings a wealth of experience which has not only solidified her reputation as a seasoned professional but has also resulted in numerous success stories that resonate across the industry. Estate Agency Coach Specializi ..read more

Nottingham City Council (NCC) has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding the publication of an audit on their financial controls completed in April 2023. NCC resisted publishing the report until instructed to do so by a decision notice from the Information Comissioner’s Office in January of 2024. The council commissioned Ernst and Young (EY) to conduct a review of the “control environments” at Nottingham City Council after “it was reported in 2021 what NCC wrongfully used £15.86m from the Housing Revenue Account – intended for such things as repairs – for general council services”. The re ..read more

From Thursday the 14th December, our opening times are changing. During the holiday period we will have essential staff available to answer calls between 10.00 am and 5.30 pm, except for weekends and public holidays. Please be aware that branches will be closed. Please call ahead before making the trip to see us. If you’re locked out, please call us. The opening hours exclude the weekends and bank holidays when we will be closed all day. During these days, if you have a maintenance emergency, please speak to our out of hours service (call your local branch and select option 7). Many of our tea ..read more

A recent article by Save the Student has highlighted a pressing issue facing students in England: the diminishing real value of Maintenance Loans in the wake of soaring inflation. This alarming situation has led to the relaunch of a petition, aiming to compel the government to adjust Maintenance Loan rates to align with current inflation rates. According to Save The Student, “Over the past 2 years (Sept ‘21–‘23), inflation (RPIX) has been 21%. But max Student Loans in England rose by just 5.2%, leaving students up to £1,500/year worse off (real terms). The government must increase loans t ..read more

Hey there, students! Managing your money doesn’t have to be a snooze-fest. With these super handy apps and websites, you’ll be mastering your finances in no time. Let’s break them down: Easy Budget Tracking 1. Wally: This intuitive app not only tracks every pound you spend but also helps you set budgets in different categories. Say you’re trying to cut back on takeout or save for that concert ticket – Wally is your go-to. It’s perfect for keeping your financial life organised and transparent. www.wally.me 2. Money Dashboard Neon: Imagine having a bird’s eye view of all your financial activitie ..read more

In the Autumn Statement 2023 today (Wed 22nd November), the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the Government “…will consult on a new permitted development right to allow any house to be converted into two flats provided the exterior remains unaffected.” At the time of writing there has been no further information published by the Government on this proposal. A consultation of this nature is likely to be 2-3 months, with the government taking a further number of months to respond to the consultation before implementing any change. Consequences If enacted, this change in permitted developmen ..read more