Service Charges, Railway Arches, Fast Homewares

Available for over a year

Rent rises in social housing are capped by the government to keep them affordable. However, there's no similar cap on service charges, which rose by 15% on average in England last year. As a result, a number of social housing tenants across the country are struggling to afford these extra charges. One of the world’s largest commercial property companies has taken full ownership of the majority of Britain's railway arches following their sale by Network Rail in 2018. These spaces have long been hubs for small independent businesses, but as inner-city rents continue to rise, will this continue? You’ve heard of fast fashion, but what about fast homewares? As supermarkets and retailers grow their range of budget homewares, we look at why people are buying so much for their homes and what this might be doing to the planet. London's Black Cabs - also known as Hackney Carriages - are recognised around the world. However, according to a new report by the Centre for London think tank, they may not be around for much longer. It suggests that if cab drivers continue to leave at the current rate, the service won't be around by 2045.