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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Two thirds of British workers are better off financially since lockdown

As the UK went into lockdown, most people were either furloughed or forced to work from home where they can, and for those who adapted to this new way of working - and living - it is possible that they now have more money in their pocket than normal.

This extra money has come from the lack of spending on travel, food and clothing expenses, according to a survey commissioned by Eskenzi PR. 

The poll of more than 1,000 people found that 30% saved on lunches by working from home, 60% of people saved money by not going out, and 50% saved on commuting costs. 

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According to the study, almost 90% of those employed in the financial sector reported savings. Similarly, those in IT, Legal, HR and Education also managed to increase their savings during the months of lockdown. Even key workers were able to save, despite still having to commute to work. 

Some 65% of retail workers, builders and manual labourers reported being better off financially since March 2020.  

Food has been a big contributor, with 30% of respondents citing this as one of the main reasons they were able to save money. Workers managed to save an average of £820 over the six-month lockdown period just by making lunch at home. 

Based on the average cost of eating out at lunch of £3.56, Monday to Friday, workers saved around £8.1bn on out-of-home lunches nationwide. 

In addition to this, government schemes such as Eat Out to Help Out contributed to some tasty savings. These financial benefits have led 35% of respondents to cite their ability to save by working from home as one of the reasons why they are not looking forward to returning to office life. 

Yvonne Eskenzi, co-founder of Eskenzi PR, said: “Eskenzi PR’s survey shows that workers aren’t keen to rush back to work full time with saving costs by not commuting and buying lunches being a major factor. However, for 40% they’re ready to go back to work for 2 to 3 days a week. 

“It all comes down to the employers now – will most of them allow their staff the freedom to work flexibility? 

“My gut feeling as the Director of an international PR agency, is that it’s going to happen whether employers like it or not as a revolution has happened right under our noses.”

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    Of course they are! 80% of gross pay is probably nearer 90% of net pay and no travel costs or several costa lot coffees, lunch, after work drinks etc. Furlough was a good idea but much too generous for those claiming it and too many people not qualifying - especially the more entrepreneurial who had recently set up businesses.

    I am NOT saying landlords should have been helped directly but tenants should have been helped to avoid rent arrears and problem tenants should have been evicted with maximum ease and speed.

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    I had a tenant ring up just as the lockdown started. On furlough, she didnt want to pay the rent. We asked her to fill out an expenses form detailing her incoming & outgoings. She then said "oh its ok I will just pay it" Course she should pay it. She was better off

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    • 09 September 2020 10:06 AM

    It does seem that those with a mortgage will move heaven and earth to ensure the monthly mortgage payments are made.

    Yet as soon as they become a tenant exactly the opposite occurs!

    Why is this?
    Do people with PCP car loans stop making payments!?
    Of course they don't.
    I'll give you the sole reason why tenants have this feckless attitude.

    It is because they know the repossession process is completely dysfunctional in their favour made even more so recently by stupid Govt eviction bans.

    There are very few real world effects of being a feckless rent defaulting tenant in the UK.

    In Oz if you rent default the LL can have you removed by Police if necessary after 14 days of first rent default.

    Consequently they have few feckless tenants in Oz as they tend to vacate if they can't or choose not to afford the rent........................funny that!!!

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    We must use any available legal recourse and other ways to motivate the rent shirking tenant to leave. Its actually for their own good. Time to move back to their Mum's house and occupy the box room staring at their faded posters of Justin Bieber or Westlife

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    ;'Rent-shirking'? Meaning someone who chooses not to pay rent? Someone who simply cannot pay rent is not 'rent-shirking'. They just can't pay. 'Mum's house' may be very far away from where they work or where work might be available or far from where their children go to school and may not even have a spare room any more. The term 'mum's house' and references to Bieber and Westlife are just belittling. (Attempts at jokes maybe?)

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    As I said to you in a similar reply a few weeks ago, the landlord is not a charity. You seemed to think that rent arrears didn't count as a debt but the solution is for the government to lend defaulters the rent arrears so that they can stay and meet their contractual obligations.

     
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