Energy Price Cap, Buy Now Pay Later, Property Guardians

Available for over a year

Next week the energy regulator Ofgem will announce its latest energy price cap to come into force from April. The energy price cap sets the limit of what energy suppliers can charge per unit of energy, and is currently set at £1,758 per year. However, according to Cornwall Insight, a firm that closely monitors the data, consumers can expect the cap to go down by at least £100 from April. We’ll discuss why and whether consumers are feeling better about their energy bills. One in four shoppers in the UK currently use companies like Klarna and Clearpay to spread the cost of what they buy. Buy-now-pay-later companies do not charge interest and are not regulated in the same way that credit card or loan providers are, but from 15th of July this will change. The Financial Conduct Authority will be introducing new rules to protect consumers, including affordability checks, consumer protections and a formalised complaints process. Its more than 20 years since the first cashback websites appeared in the UK. Cashback websites offer to pay you a percentage of what you spend online so long as you do it using their links to the websites of certain retailers. Financial website Money Saving Expert says that it is possible to save hundreds of pounds a year by using these sites, but it is far from easy. We discuss how they work and whether they are worth the time and investment. Would you live in an empty office block or unused church if the rent was cheap enough? As the cost of renting continues to rise, its something more people are considering by becoming property guardians. Property guardians pay below market rate to live in unused properties, which can range from offices to former schools and factories that have been repurposed. Can it help ease the housing crisis? PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON PRODUCER: CHARLIE FILMER-COURT