Wandsworth weighs 160% council tax rise, £800 Band D hike
Wandsworth Council, run by Conservatives, plans a 160% council tax increase for Band D homes from April, adding roughly £800 to annual bills after government granted uncapped rise permission.
Category : Housing Issues
Inspector rejects Rowley Regis home nursery plan
A government inspector has upheld Sandwell Council's refusal of plans to convert a three-bed home in Bell End, Rowley Regis into a nursery for ten children, citing a 'bulky, cramped' extension and noise concerns.
Plan for 47 flats on former Bilston railway station site resubmitted
A plan to build 47 flats next to the Black Country Route in Bilston has been re-submitted to City of Wolverhampton Council, following a history of rejected and withdrawn applications.
Black Country Route 48-Flat Plan Re-Submitted
Revised plans for 48 flats on the Black Country Route have been re-submitted after previous approval lapsed. The development, near Bilston, will include one and two-bedroom apartments.
Pensioners Get £300 Winter Fuel Boost
Nine million pension households will receive automatic Winter Fuel Payments of £200 or £300 in November, with a new £35,000 income threshold affecting eligibility.
Burnham shelves Thames Water plan over costs
Andy Burnham has shelved plans to place Thames Water into special administration over fears it could cost taxpayers more than £2bn, with ministers exploring alternatives.
Reform could evict tenants over unkempt gardens
Reform UK proposes evicting social housing tenants who fail to keep gardens tidy and homes decorated, citing past council inspections and prioritising British-born married couples.
Stoke-on-Trent tops England fuel poverty rankings
Stoke-on-Trent has the highest fuel poverty rate in England at 14.8%, new analysis by Felons Support reveals. Birmingham follows at 13.8%.
Solihull tenants 'fear eviction' over mould in new tenancy agreement
Solihull councillors warn updated tenancy agreement could stop tenants reporting mould, fearing blame and eviction. The new deal affects 10,000 council homes.
Burnham's £500 fines for refusing home valuations
HMRC agents can demand entry to homes under Burnham's mansion tax plan. Refusing entry risks fines up to £500. Around 165,000 homes affected in 2028/29.
Cash users boosted as 1.4m still rely on notes and coins
1.4 million UK adults still mainly use cash for day-to-day spending, despite 91% using remote banking in 2025. Cash payments expected to fall to 4% by 2035.
New-build homeowners risk £1,000 estate fees as government acts
New-build homeowners face estate management fees of £200-£500, sometimes over £1,000 annually. Government promises action to end 'fleecehold' and give residents more control.
Solihull housing projects delayed, costs soar (23.08.2026)
Solihull housing schemes Middlewood House and Rowood Drive face years of delays and cost overruns, with £450,000 extra needed for one project.
Meriden homeowner faces enforcement after appeal rejected
A planning inspector upheld Solihull Council's refusal of a retrospective application for an outbuilding extension and gravel track in Meriden's green belt, leaving the homeowner facing potential enforcement action.
Warwick top Midlands family destination, data shows
Warwick district saw over 13,000 new arrivals in a year, the highest incoming migration in the Midlands, with a net gain of 2,000 residents.
Burnham to block water firms' surge pricing plan
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will intervene to stop water companies introducing surge pricing, Downing Street confirmed. Ofwat had planned to allow the pricing from April.
Parents slam £2,500 school holiday fine rule change
From September 1, schools must consider fines for five or more unauthorised absences. Parents in Birmingham call the rule 'ridiculous', with fines up to £2,500 or custodial sentences.
Classic cars at risk under new Labour emissions plans
Classic car owners could be forced off roads under new Labour government plans to strengthen in-use emissions laws, with a consultation now in the hands of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Pensioners urged to check for £2,300 council tax discount
State pensioners could cut their £2,300 average council tax bill to £0 with discounts. Martin Lewis explains who qualifies for 25% or 50% off.
80,000 leave Birmingham in largest UK exodus outside London
Over 80,000 people left Birmingham in the last 12 months, the largest exodus outside London, with many moving to Sandwell, Warwick, and Lichfield.
Severn Trent Green Belt homes plan sparks Sutton anger
Severn Trent plans up to 200 homes on Green Belt land off Lindridge Road in Sutton Coldfield, prompting immediate opposition from residents and politicians over traffic and green space loss.
HMRC Lifetime ISA 25% penalty warning for savers
HMRC has collected £56m in Lifetime ISA withdrawal penalties since 2018. The 25% charge can exceed the government bonus, and the £450,000 house price threshold remains unchanged.
Pension Credit: £48 extra a week with Carer's Allowance rule
Pension Credit claimants can get an extra £48.15 a week if they receive Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment, or have claimed but aren't paid due to another higher benefit.
Dog-Friendly Midlands Retreat Reviewed
A blissful rural retreat in the Midlands offers a paradise for dog owners, with spacious grounds, pet-friendly amenities, and scenic walks, according to a recent visit.
Smoking indoors could cut £27,000 off your home value
Smoking indoors can reduce a UK home's value by up to 10%, a £27,190 loss on the average property, according to experts at Northerner and The Property Buying Company.
Solihull housing projects delayed, costs soar
Two Solihull housing schemes are 'red rated' with completion dates pushed to 2027 and 2028, needing £874,000 in extra funding.
Sutton Coldfield trouble spot to become restaurant
Plans to transform the eyesore base of Knights House in Sutton Coldfield into a restaurant and retail unit have been submitted, aiming to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Tidbury Green residents protest 1,000 new homes with signs
More than 50 Tidbury Green villagers protested against potentially 1,000+ new homes, with over 100 signs appearing in gardens across the Solihull village.
Worcester mum must demolish £170k annexe for disabled daughter
Clair Birch, 59, has six months to demolish or modify a £170,000 two-storey annexe built for her disabled daughter in Worcester, after losing appeals against a council enforcement notice.
Pensioners face September deadline to opt out of Winter Fuel Payment
State pensioners must opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment by 20 September 2026 to avoid HMRC deductions if their income exceeds £35,000. DWP confirms deadlines.
Page 3 of 58