Monday February 13, 2017

The election of Donald Trump, uncertainty surrounding Brexit (sorry, that will be the last mention of the B word) and a cash strapped city Council have combined to provide an unlikely boost to our own ‘hip and trendy Heaton’ to quote a recent airing of Channel 4 show Location, Location, Location. With the pound currently […]

Friday December 16, 2016

In 2013, on this blog I mentioned that Heaton was catching up with our posh neighbour Jesmond. Today I can confidently say that in many respects, Heaton has eclipsed Jesmond as a place to live, work, eat, shop and play. Once the spluttered outbursts from Jesmond residents have subsided I will explain why. The history […]

Monday August 29, 2016

Few people shed a tear when bank stress test results are announced. Indeed, one professional colleague recently speculated that the introduction of thumb screws might improve the process.  But while bank stress test results hit the headlines, the results from banks own stress tests on private landlords fails to make the news. On a mortgage […]

Thursday October 15, 2015

You’re probably bored of hearing me say ‘they do it better over there’. Maybe it’s that combination switching the work emails off, feeling the sun on your back and enjoying a relaxed local tipple in a pleasant village square that prompts that sense you’re in a place where it’s just that bit better than back […]

Thursday June 11, 2015

Like never before, housing has been in the crosshairs at the very top of Government. It played a crucial role in pre-election debates, and the Queen’s Speech, which included Right to Buy legislation and regulation on lettings agents, proved that housing will be central to the Conservatives’ next five years in office. It feels slightly […]