Letter of wishes could help prevent Wills being contested
Leaving a letter of wishes alongside your Will can help prevent legal challenges, according to Woodfines, as it explains your decisions to a court.
Category : Housing Issues
Disabled pensioner and dog homeless after Willenhall fire
Paula Fenton, 84, lost her Willenhall bungalow in a fire on August 13. A gofundme has raised £745. Her granddaughter Jade says someone dragged her out minutes before the blaze destroyed the home.
Aldi: How to stop potatoes sprouting at home
Aldi and food expert Kate Hall reveal how to store potatoes to prevent sprouting, including keeping them away from onions and fridge storage tips.
Picking fruit from neighbour's trees risks £300 fine
Picking fruit from a neighbour's overhanging tree without permission can be classed as theft under UK law, with fixed penalties ranging from £100 to £300, experts warn.
Birmingham house to become children's home under new plans
Birmingham City Council has received plans to convert a house in Selly Oak into a children's home for up to two children, operated by Minerva Youth Care Limited and regulated by Ofsted.
Travelodge CEO quits after key card sexual assault
Travelodge chief executive Jo Boydell has resigned after criticism over her response to a guest's sexual assault in Maidenhead, where a man was given a key card to her room.
Probate delays: Five practical steps for families from estate planner
Estate planner Steve Bish urges families to prepare early for probate delays, offering five practical steps to manage paperwork, bills and property while grieving.
Andy Burnham Urged Not to Cut Benefits for Young People
40 charities warn Andy Burnham against cutting Universal Credit health element for under-22s, urging a fair approach to reduce youth poverty.
Dudley Council rejects HMO for disabled resident in Pensnett
Dudley Council has rejected plans for a detached HMO unit for a disabled occupant in Tansey Green Road, Pensnett, citing poor accessibility and backland development concerns.
UK Monthly Rents Rise 3.7% as Tenants Face Steep Costs
UK average monthly private rent rose 3.7% to £1,393 in the 12 months to July, ONS figures show, as tenants face 'extremely steep' costs and house price growth slowed to 2%.
Flooding fears over green belt homes in Solihull
Solihull must build 8,500 new homes by 2029, with green belt land at risk. Councillors fear flooding will worsen after 900 properties were affected in 2018 and 2022.
Cannock Chase Council to buy house for Afghan family
Cannock Chase Council plans to buy three properties, including one for Afghan families, using a £325,200 Government grant from the Local Authority Housing Fund 4 to boost temporary accommodation.
Winter Fuel Payments: £300 Boost for 9 Million
Millions of pensioners to receive £200 or £300 Winter Fuel Payments automatically in November, with new £35,000 income threshold affecting eligibility.
Burnham cuts pension payments for 3 million over-65s
Around 3 million pensioners born before 1960 face reduced monthly payments as HMRC claws back Winter Fuel Payments they no longer qualify for. Deductions start at £17 a month, rising to £33 next April.
Former Masonic lodge site in Birmingham to get 165 new homes
Plans for 165 new homes at the former Clarendon Suites site in Edgbaston, Birmingham, have been approved. The development includes 75 townhouses and 90 apartments, with councillors praising the design and density.
State Pensioners Under 76 Could Get £1,004 Monthly
State pensioners under 76 may receive £1,004 monthly as wage growth of 4.1% likely triggers Triple Lock rise, confirmed by PM Andy Burnham.
Wetherspoon bans loud mobile calls and music in pubs
JD Wetherspoon has banned customers from playing music or making loudspeaker calls on mobile devices across all 792 pubs, following complaints that noise was driving people 'nuts'.
Charity gifts save wealthy families £1.28bn in inheritance tax
Wealthy families saved £1.28bn in inheritance tax through charitable gifts in 2025-26, up 88% from 2020-21, as HMRC rules cut the tax rate to 36% for estates leaving over 10% to charity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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