The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement seems to have gone down rather well, doesn’t it? I wrote to my MP Chris Grayling early last year suggesting that the Government implement a Stamp Duty system like the one it’s just introduced. I’m so glad my ideas were implemented…

Yes - I am joking!

So often when showing people around properties during my weekend estate agency hobby-job, I’m aware that any which are a few thousand pounds or even £30,000 into the next tax bracket, will not sell if they sport dated, damaged or grubby kitchens and bathrooms, since potential buyers realise there won’t be enough money left to replace them with all the extra tax involved, and they’re simply not prepared to live with them the way they are. I reckon the changes – well at the lower to middle end of the market anyway where people generally have less money to throw around – will make an enormous difference to how quickly properties shift and of course the stamp duty savings can be spent replacing the kitchens and bathrooms, can’t they?

While there were a number of changes announced that will be good for this industry – such as the abolition of National Insurance contributions for employers taking on new apprentices, and the fuel duty freeze, I believe the stamp duty changes will have the most impact on our industry.

As you’re reading this, John Austen and I will be mingling with a few hundred fellow guests at the annual Loo of the Year Awards. Although this event celebrates the best of this nation’s ‘away from home’ loos, it’s not just about WCs and local authority-run public toilets in parks and town centres, but also about complete washrooms in hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs, shopping malls and – yes – even showrooms. The British Toilet Association, which organises the awards, is open to new members be they corporate or individual and many of them will be your customers or potential customers. The awards themselves need sponsors. I can vouch for the fact that members and sponsors benefit from excellent ongoing global publicity, while the networking opportunities are tremendous. If you’d like to know more, do get in touch with me or email [email protected]

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Yours,

Jan Hobbs