TENANTS BETTER OFF THAN HOMEOWNERS DURING SLOWDOWN

TENANTS are better placed to ride out the financial pressures caused by the rising cost of living than homeowners, according to new research from MoneyExpert.com.  The independent financial comparison website says per capita expenditure on commodities and services is significantly less for renters than it is for people who have mortgages.

Analysis of the most recent industry data shows that the average tenant spends £133.90 per person per week on commodities and services ranging from food, clothing and transport to alcohol, leisure, phone and energy bills.  But homeowners spend up to 62% more on the same items, forking out on average £216.60 per person per week.

The findings come after the Chancellor Alistair Darling urged the international community to take action on commodity prices and suggested employers should limit demands for salary increases to help tame inflation.  But with Britain currently suffering the fastest increase in the cost of food and fuel since the 1970s, MoneyExpert.com warns that the financial pressure on homeowners in particular is likely to increase.

Sean Gardner, director of MoneyExpert.com, commented:- “Much has been made of the dilapidated mortgage market and the effects of inflation, and it is true that homeowners are likely to suffer a real change in their standard of living as costs rise.  But tenants are less exposed to these factors – they don’t have to remortgage; they won’t suffer equity losses as house prices drop; and their per capita expenditure on basic commodities is lower than those of homeowners, too.  This may explain why the housing market is struggling to recover – people realise that renting is cheaper now and aren’t prepared to run the risk of being on the property ladder.”

The MoneyExpert.com analysis assessed the expenditure of households in 13 categories: Food & non-alcoholic drinks; Alcoholic drinks, tobacco & narcotics; Clothing & footwear; Housing fuel & power; Household goods & services; Health; Transport; Communication; Recreation & culture; Education; Restaurants & hotels; Miscellaneous goods & services; and Rent/Mortgage payments.

The research showed that there are on average 2.8 people in a ‘homeowner’ household whereas the typical rented household has 2.3 people living in it. However the ‘per capita’ analysis – dividing total household expenditure by the average number of people in each household – shows that tenants spend less per person on some of the basic essentials.

Editor Comment: But I wonder if this is due to more people in rented accommodation being below the poverty line whilst, the homeowners are above it? 

Liverpool Higher Education Reunion Weekend

CALLING all former pupils and staff of S Kaths, Christs College, Notre Dame, Liverpool Institute of Higher Education, Liverpool Hope University College and Liverpool Hope University's Reunion Weekend at Hope Park from Friday, 4 July to Sunday, 6 July 2008

§ Drinks reception on Friday evening from 6.30pm

§ Tours of Hope Park and Cornerstone Campuses on Saturday with lunch

§ Evening champagne Reception with casino (nb not real money)

§ 3 course gala dinner with live music from gypsy jazz quartet “Hot Club of Knotty Ash” and an after dinner speaker.

§ Ecumenical service at Hope Park on Sunday morning

Still a few vacancies left.  Various packages available, including en-suite accommodation if required.  Please contact alumni@hope.ac.uk, www.hope.ac.uk/alumni or ring 0151 291 3219 for more information.

Larkfield Primary School students are making headlines

STUDENTS from Larkfield Primary School in Southport were delighted to be announced winners of The International Newsday Challenge 2008 supported by The Guardian and AlphaSmart (www.alphaSmart.co.uk).  Budding young journalists from schools all over the world were challenged to produce their own school newspaper, news website or podcast in this international competition. Over 700 schools entered the challenge in which was named winner of First Time Entry Category.

The Newsday Challenge tasked schools to run their own newsroom for a day - writing news stories about their school and local area, as well as national and international events. The school teams had to make their own editorial decisions regarding the topics they wanted to cover, and how they wanted to present them to suit the style of their publication or broadcast. All content was produced entirely by the student editorial teams and included the writing, design, and production.

The results were judged by a team of former teachers, and journalists from The Guardian who carefully considered each entrant in the ten categories.

Lisa Spiller, a member of the judging panel for The Guardian, commented:- “The standard of the entries to Newsday 2008 has been extremely high. The creativity and attention to detail shown in each of the short-listed entries really shows that current newspaper editors should be watching their backs!

Larkfield Primary School team did a fantastic job and well deserves the award.”

The winning schools were invited to an award ceremony held at The Guardian offices on 20 June where they were presented with their certificates and a prize of an AlphaSmart Neo portable word processor. The Neo is used by journalists as a lightweight battery operated electronic notebook which is ideal for use by busy reporters on the move as well as pupils of all ages and abilities in the classroom.

Richard Hubbard, Product Manager for competition sponsor AlphaSmart, commented:- “Larkfield Primary School did a great job; the quality of their work was outstanding. AlphaSmart has been involved in this competition for three years and this year’s entries were really impressive.

I’d like to congratulate the Larkfield Primary School news team on their really professional work.

I hope they enjoy using their AlphaSmart Neo to carry on producing such excellent writing.”

The International Newsday Challenge is an annual competition supported by AlphaSmart in association with Learnewsdesk and Softease. The competition is open to schools throughout the world with categories for children aged 5 to 16. For more information visit:- www.newsday.co.uk.

Southport and Sefton Area Home & Business Watch Update

SOUTHPORT'S Town Center Inspector Jim McLoughlin sends an invitation in his newsletter, for members of the public to attend the next community meeting at Holy Trinity Parish Centre, Hoghton Street commencing at 7.30pm on the 6 August 2008.

The priorities chosen by the community for the next focus period are:-

1. Anti social behaviour - Eastbank Street/Lord Street. Street drinking and drunken behaviour.

2. Speeding - Marine Bridge/Marine Drive. Excessive speeding motor vehicles at this location.

3. Illegal parking/unnecessary obstruction- Tulketh Street/Chapel Street

Inspector McLoughlin states:- "We continue to suffer with several incidents of theft of cycles in the town centre. Generally the cycles that are stolen are left unattended for some time and are insecure.

This therefore is a further warning to cyclists in the town to take care of your cycles and make sure they are secured when not in use and left unattended."

Police have issued the following advice:-

* Secure your cycle when unattended.

* Leave the cycle in sight if possible or in an area well populated.

* Ensure that your cycle is security marked

* Make use of CCTV controlled site when securing your cycleh

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