Reform UK PIP overhaul: 20-hour work rule planned
Reform UK proposes 20-hour weekly community work for long-term unemployed PIP claimants, with £30 expenses. Over 2.8 million could lose cash payments under tightened eligibility.
Category : Housing Issues
Bed bugs force Wolverhampton family to sleep on floor
A Wolverhampton mum says her family is sleeping on the floor after a severe bed bug infestation at their home, despite two pest control treatments. She has begged her housing association to rehouse them.
Tories slam Reform's £5bn PIP cuts, vow to restore assessments
The Conservatives have criticised Reform's plans for £5 billion PIP cuts and pledged to restore face-to-face assessments if they win the next general election.
27 Councils Offer £0 Council Tax for Terminally Ill
27 English councils now exempt terminally ill residents from council tax, offering £0 bills. Marie Curie urges all councils to adopt the measure, citing financial relief for dying patients.
This Free Telegram App Replaces Your Messy Shopping Notes
Shared lists with real-time sync. No signup needed — just open and shop together.
Recommended
Burnham and Nandy weigh new BBC TV licence concessions
Labour government responds to calls for free TV licences for all state pensioners, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy considering new concessions in the BBC Charter Review.
New pub protection rules in England announced by Rayner
Angela Rayner announces new planning rules to protect pubs from conversion, as Camra reports 794 closures this year. Pubs also get 20% business rates discount.
DVLA warns drivers turning 70: renew online in a week
Drivers turning 70 must renew their licence every 3 years. DVLA says online renewal takes minutes and new licence arrives within a week. No changes announced.
Flat Dwellers Face Triple EV Charging Costs
Drivers in flats without driveways could pay two to three times more for EV charging than homeowners, warns GM Direct Hire director Majid Ismailzada, as VAT changes widen the gap.
Hedge Cutting Ban Until August 31: Fines Explained
UK homeowners face unlimited fines and six months in jail for trimming hedges from March 1 to August 31 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to protect nesting birds.
This Free Telegram App Replaces Your Messy Shopping Notes
Shared lists with real-time sync. No signup needed — just open and shop together.
Recommended
Bellway urges Burnham to cut stamp duty and back deposits
Bellway has called on the Labour government to cut stamp duty immediately and introduce a deposit support scheme for first-time buyers, citing uncertain demand and cost inflation.
Apple trees risk £200k fine after High Court ruling
UK homeowners with apple trees face £200,000 fines after a High Court case. A woman was ordered to pay costs after her tree dropped apples on a neighbour's lawn.
Right to Buy sales rise 90% as two million sold since 1980
Right to Buy sales surged 90% in 2025-26, with over two million homes sold since 1980. Experts warn each sale reduces affordable housing stock unless replaced.
27.1% of landlords plan to exit sector by 2029
A Property118 survey of 2,096 landlords reveals 27.1% plan to exit buy-to-let by 2029, with 67.7% expecting to sell some properties, citing taxation and the Renters' Rights Act.
Birmingham mums reveal rat and fly ordeal in temporary housing
New mums in Birmingham temporary housing report rats, flies, and rubbish. One family's GP warns of health risks for newborn. Council apologizes and arranges moves.
This Free Telegram App Replaces Your Messy Shopping Notes
Shared lists with real-time sync. No signup needed — just open and shop together.
Recommended
Birmingham loses 400+ council homes yearly to Right to Buy
Birmingham sells over 400 council homes a year via Right to Buy, outpacing new builds 4:1. Critics demand abolition, citing housing crisis.
Pensioners Over £35k to Lose £300 Winter Fuel Payment
State pensioners earning above £35,000 annually will have approximately £33 deducted monthly from tax as HMRC recovers Winter Fuel Payments, with up to £600 deductions possible in 2027-28.
Birmingham rat hotspot: 950% rise in one postcode
Birmingham is the UK's rat hotspot, with the B postcode area recording 315 call-outs in a year. The B15 area saw a 950% rise, and JG Pest Control says rodents are no longer just a winter issue.
Solihull housing scheme delayed, delivery to 2032
The Accelerated Housing Delivery programme in Solihull faces delays, with a change request to extend delivery to April 2032 and increase funding by £0.424 million, amid planning and legislation issues.
HMRC confirms tax-free gift rule for couples' savings
HMRC confirms the tax-free gift rule for couples moving money between personal savings accounts, clarifying whose income the interest is for and how allowances apply.
This Free Telegram App Replaces Your Messy Shopping Notes
Shared lists with real-time sync. No signup needed — just open and shop together.
Recommended
Birmingham mum's horror as fire destroys family home
A Birmingham mum and her four children lost everything when a fire destroyed their Ward End home of 23 years. Two family cats died. Neighbours and a fundraiser offer support.
146 unclaimed estates in Birmingham could mean a fortune
There are 146 unclaimed estates in Birmingham, with residents potentially entitled to inheritances. The Bona Vacantia list includes estates of people who died intestate with no known next of kin. Claimants have 12 years to stake a claim.
Wolverhampton cramped HMO appeal rejected
A government planning inspector has thrown out an appeal to convert a home in Woden Road, Wolverhampton, into a six-bed HMO, agreeing with council that rooms would be too cramped and uncomfortable.
Birmingham woman left TUI Kos hotel after £2,000 nightmare
Dani Baker and partner Keiran left their £2,000 TUI holiday in Kos after one day, finding stained carpets, broken AC, and no door lock at the Kipriotis Panorama Hotel and Suites.
Telford 3,400-home scheme would swallow good crop land
A 273-hectare site near Telford, mostly arable farmland, is earmarked for 3,400 homes, with 118 hectares rated as 'good' quality agricultural land, raising concerns over food production.
This Free Telegram App Replaces Your Messy Shopping Notes
Shared lists with real-time sync. No signup needed — just open and shop together.
Recommended
Birmingham mum admits hiding children info from DWP
Selina Begum, 24, from Frankley, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to disclose information to the DWP to obtain Universal Credit, involving two children between March 2023 and October 2024.
Birmingham firm denies unlicensed HMO flats claims
A Birmingham real estate firm has denied accusations of operating unlicensed flats in two HMOs, following a council investigation into housing standards.
Stourbridge fire: 19 homes destroyed, residents displaced
A grass fire in Stourbridge destroyed 19 homes and damaged 18 more, displacing many residents. Over 100 firefighters battled the blaze, which covered 500 acres.
Councillor praises wartime spirit as wildfire hits Stourbridge
A Dudley councillor has praised the wartime spirit of residents as a wildfire raged through homes in Stourbridge, causing significant damage but no injuries.
Homes on fire near Daisy Farm Park, major incident declared
A fire broke out on August 13 opposite Daisy Farm Park in Highters Heath, destroying homes on Gorleston Road and forcing evacuations, with Warstock Community Centre opened as shelter.
This Free Telegram App Replaces Your Messy Shopping Notes
Shared lists with real-time sync. No signup needed — just open and shop together.
Recommended
Compass urges Burnham to back 100% second home tax
Compass urges PM Andy Burnham to introduce a 100% tax on second home purchases, plus a review of council tax and stamp duty, to tackle the housing crisis.
Page 2 of 55
