Sheds

Immigration results in higher housing costs and land prices.

I'm sure you will approve.

Yes up here in Kingston, the business rates are going up and many small businesses in small parades of shops are moving out in droves, So much for local shop support. This is because the council has been told in exchange for not taking a government settlement they can keep 100 per cent of the business rate. it has to be an idiot that could not see that this is a charter to milk the local businesses who already struggling with higher rents aware now faced with higher business rates. All to keep the council tax the same. I also note that a hike in extra rubbish prices is happening. So a garden waste bin that I need being unable to drive has increased to 67 quid a year fofrom 55 a year. Being penalised for not being able to drive to the recycle centre seems to be a legal thing nowadays. All the centre of Kingston is going to be rebuilt with flats above the retail, assuming any retail remains since most do their shopping on line. Brian

No it isn't

whist it is true that there is a change to councils keeping 100% of CT, the rate is still being set by HMG (and is no more than index linked each year)

The council have not put the rate up

tim

Then why are their posters up in some shops saying that their business rates have increased by 60% last year?

This might be because they were re-rated recently?

I also thought businesses can apply to the Local Authority for a reduction in rates for a myriad of reasons. Perhaps since the LA now takes the hit, they are scrutinising any reductions a little closer?

Of course they can apply. They can be told to go jump in the lake too.

NT

It is absolutely because they were re-rated

and that too is done by a body controlled by National Government.

tim

Are things you keep things in or hide from your partner in.

Also self storage units.

I keep some stuff in a self storage unit about ten miles away - original purpose being a place to keep off-site backups, now a lot more.

They send out paper invoices once a month, regardless of method of paymewnt - I believe to cover themselves in cases when they sell unit contents to cover unpaid bills.

The guy who runs it was telling me that he has a small 'special' list of customers to whom invoices must *not* be posted. This is because their wives don't know they have a storage unit, and wouldn't approve of what is being stored.

Of course they cannot DIY. They pay the likes of TMH to fit wireless doorbells for them and pay me to do the more technical tasks such as swapping a light bulb (or as of yesterday turning back on a tripped RCD)

It's a wonder such people can wipe their own arse.

DIY is dying. That's why the sheds are closing and the remaining ones are full of chintzy lamp shades and similar s*it.

Oh, well, let's gird up my loins with warm girders and go and put up the new lights in the garage.

Yet there are tile shops and specialist places popping up.

The likes of Toolstation and Screwfix must also take a hit.

On the other hand some players have already left, Focus comes to mind.

I wonder how long Homebase aka Bunnings will exist?

I'm not so sure. Things like plumbing is made a lot easier (if not better) with plastic, plastering with dry wall. Most could turn their hand to electrics, up to a point.

The fact that Screwfix etc appear to be expanding - is that not meeting a DIY demand?

I've always found the sheds (as in huge warehouse-shops that sell cushions alongside drills) of limited use - maybe their time has come. Wickes is perhaps the top end of what can be run effectively - and even they have in-store franchises I gather.

If diy disappears almost completely there will still be trade outlets like toolsatan & screwstation, plumbers merchants etc, and online for small stuf f. So no worries. We'd just have to buy all pro priced tools.

I suspect the reason the sheds are struggling is that they're just overpric ed. Espag handle 11.28 Travesty Perkins, 10.94 Homebase, £7 at Wilko,

NT

The reason is simple. A decade or 2 ago young people were able to buy a house of their own

Immigration and the lack of housing to keep pace with the population has meant most young professionals cannot purchase a house to do DIY. I recall a NQT teacher at the age of 22 buying her house in the Midlands.

No way could a young teacher do that now.

what they do though is buy furnishings etc.

Teachers are third on my list to be shot when I take charge of the world.

What's a teacher done to you?

Even Maplin is on its way out. A pity if you just want one (expensive) capacitor or resistor and don't want to pay the postage.

Not taught him anything useful? (Though that's (mainly) down to the school/system rather than the individual teachers.)