Latest news with #Wigan
Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Times
Renters face higher monthly bills than mortgage holders
Renters have seen a greater increase in their monthly housing bills over the past three years than homeowners with mortgages. Average rents have increased by £221 to £1,283 per calendar month since 2022, while the average mortgage repayment rose by £218 to £1,154 per month, according to research from Zoopla, the property search website. A sharp rise in demand for rented homes in 2022 and 2023, while the stock of private rented homes has remained broadly static, outstripped rising mortgage rates over the same period. Higher rents are also linked to affordability constraints, which have prevented tenants from getting on the housing ladder and caused many to remain in the rental market for longer. This boosted already high demand in the wake of the pandemic, thanks to a strong labour market and higher levels of migration for work and study. Robust growth in average earnings over the past three years has supported the acceleration in average rents. However, private renters on lower incomes and those relying on state support have faced a greater squeeze on living costs from higher housing payments. The largest increase in rents has occurred outside London over the past three years. In Oldham, rents have risen by more than a third — 35 per cent — to £876 since 2022. Wigan also saw rents increase by 32 per cent to an average of £800 a month. More recently, rental price inflation for new lets has weakened from a high base and is at its lowest rate for four years. Slower wage growth, limiting rental affordability, and improvements in mortgage market conditions for first-time buyers have helped to reduce rent increases. This week, Hamptons, the estate agency, reduced its forecast for rent increases for this year from 4.5 per cent to 1 per cent, which would be the smallest annual increase since 2018. 'The quickest way to alleviate high rents is to grow the stock of homes for rent in both the social and private rented sectors,' said Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla. 'Growing housing supply is a key government target, and it's vital that the stock of rented homes is expanded across all tenures.' In March, Savills, the estate agency, said that households weathered a collective £19.8 billion rise in mortgage and rental payments last year, to £217.5 billion. This represented a record, £8.6 billion higher than the previous peak in 2016, when adjusted for inflation. The figures show that mortgage borrowers faced interest payments increasing to £49.2 billion last year from £39.2 billion in 2023 — a 25 per cent increase. With many landlords passing on the cost of these higher mortgage payments to tenants, renters experienced a 9 per cent rise in payments to £80.7 billion. Other costs included in the total figure included mortgage repayments, excluding interest, which rose by 2 per cent to £60.3 billion and social rent, which jumped by 8 per cent to £27.3 billion. Separately, Savills said in November last year that it expected rents to rise by nearly a fifth over the next five years. That would mean increases continuing to outpace wage growth, with economists at the estate agency forecasting a 15 per cent increase in average incomes over the next five years.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police appeal for help to find missing 16-year-old boy
Police appeal for help to find missing 16-year-old boy Tyler, 16, has been missing since last Tuesday (Image: GMP) Police are appealing for help to find a missing teenager. Tyler is described as a white male and was last seen in Atherton last Tuesday (July 15) at 11.30am. The 16-year-old was last seen on the Devonshire Road in Atherton and officers said that they are increasingly concerned about him. Wigan and Leigh Police have asked anyone with information about Tyler's whereabouts to contact them. Police said they are 'increasingly concerned' about Tyler's wherabouts (Image: GMP) You can get in touch with police by calling 101 and quoting the log number 2285 of 15/7/2025. READ MORE: Police charge man with drink driving after stop in Atherton ADVERTISEMENT READ MORE: Belong Atherton named as one the country's best A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "Can you help us find missing Tyler? "He was last seen on Devonshire Road, Atherton on Tuesday 15 July at 11.30am. "Anyone with information about Tyler's whereabouts should contact police on 101, quoting the log number 2285 of 15/07/2025."
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Wigan: 'My brother was diagnosed with cancer, then I was too'
"When my brother told me he had prostate cancer, it absolutely floored me. So then to be told I had the same thing was a shock."Russell Wood, 66, had only gone to get tested for cancer because his brother Glenn had encouraged him to do so after his own diagnosis. A month apart the family now faced cancer treatment for two siblings. Glenn, 61, says he had been to the GP after starting to wake up in the night up to six times to urinate. But Russell had no symptoms at all."I really wasn't expecting it," he says. "I'm so glad Glenn encouraged me to get tested, because otherwise I'd have had cancer and not known."After successful treatment at The Christie in Manchester, both men are urging others to get checked, with Glenn saying: "If I had put off going to the doctor any longer, my cancer might not have been as treatable as it was – and that doesn't bear thinking about." The brothers, from Wigan, supported each other through the treatment after the initial diagnosis in September last cancer was found to be aggressive and he immediately underwent hormone therapy and Russell's cancer was caught earlier, meaning he could be treated with radiotherapy a retired air systems engineer and grandfather-of-five, who had his last radiotherapy session in May, told BBC Radio Manchester: "We wouldn't be having this conversation now if it wasn't for my brother."He said he was glad they were both diagnosed so close together "as we've known what each other was going through and could support one another". "Russ came to watch me ring the bell at the end of treatment, and I went to watch him – it was emotional for both of us," says Glenn, a vehicle engineer from Tyldesley. Their consultant at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Maria Serra says it is the first time she has treated two siblings at the same urged men to be aware of symptoms "including peeing more frequently, especially at night, needing to rush to the toilet, and difficulty starting to pee" and to speak to their GP if they are says he had gone to see a doctor as he "knew something wasn't right".He has since been raising awareness about prostate cancer and nearly two thirds of his colleagues are going to get checked as a result."Men are rubbish at speaking up when something's wrong, and that needs to change," he says. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
James Tavernier reaches a decade on Rangers rollercoaster as one constant remains amid yet another clean slate
Tavernier led Russell Martin out as captain and now works for him as Champions League chance rolls around again James Tavernier has spent a decade spinning round the Rangers rollercoaster. More often than not, he's finished up crashing into the buffers. But for all those repeated disappointments, the Ibrox skipper is still setting out with the hope that this year's thrill ride will be the one that stays on track right until the triumphant end. Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the day the right-back arrived in Glasgow alongside Wigan team-mate Martyn Waghorn as part of a joint £200,000 swoop. Tavernier has certainly repaid that sum in goals down the years. But silverware has been harder to come by for a man crowned British football's highest ever scoring defender. He picked up his solitary league winner's medal under Steven Gerrard in 2021, with a Scottish Cup coming a year later under Gio van Bronckhorst only days after his side had lost out on Europa League glory in Seville. He completed the set under Philippe Clement with Gers' 2023 League Cup success but that's scant reward for 10 years at Ibrox. Yet, as he begins life under Russell Martin on Tuesday tonight - his seventh full-time boss since joining the club - the excitement levels remain as high as they were the day Mark Warburton brought the 33-year-old to the club back in 2015. 'My wife sent me a picture this morning to remind me that it was my tenth anniversary at the club,' he grinned. 'So yes, it's gone quickly, really quick. 'I've said in previous years, all the years of being here have been a rollercoaster. But throughout it all, I've always given 110% no matter what and I'll continue to do that. 'I always want to win. That's always been instilled in us as a little boy. I've always wanted to win no matter what. If it's playing PlayStation against my son or it's playing a match or in training, I always want to win. 'So I'm always going to continue to do that until even later in my career and even after I've retired and something that I'll go into afterwards, I want to win whatever I do. 'I'm always excited for every season to begin because it's always a fresh slate. 'The philosophy that the manager wants us to play with the ball and off the ball. It's going to be intense and that's been shown in the preseason that we've been doing - lots of running and the games behind closed doors and just the implements that he wants us to play and you'll see a real big difference of how we played over the past few years to this season. 'It's obviously been a quick four weeks during pre-season. The training's been really intense. The manager's really drilled in his philosophies of how he wants to play as a team, the structure. So the boys have really taken it on board and we're really looking forward to tomorrow night. 'I think you'll see in the way we play, with the ball and without the ball. I think that'll be evident when tomorrow unfolds and as the season unfolds, you'll certainly see a different style of play that I've probably not played since I've been here. Back in 2018 when Martin was spending a brief stint at Ibrox on loan as a player, he was being led out by Tavernier. Now he's the man barking the orders. 'I've had a couple of conversations with some of the younger lads, letting them know my age and that I've played with him and that I was captain! 'But, it's been really smooth and the conversations that we've been having, you can see his mindset of what he wants. And that's the bright side of it and what he's demanding from us as a team, me myself and it's really exciting. 'Could I see his managerial credentials back then? Typically not when you play. He was a really intelligent footballer, had a great career. 'But you obviously saw what he was starting to build when he went to Swansea, and obviously Southampton. 'The way he wants his teams to play. So it's obviously different compared to what he was playing as a player, but it's nice to see.' The heat will be on Gers tonight as they kick-off their Champions League campaign against Panathinaikos at Ibrox. But with temperatures around the 35 degree mark expected in Athens for next week's return, Tavernier knows Gers can't afford to be caught cold. He said: 'We want a positive result just to show everybody what we're capable of, what we're working to. 'But obviously, we want to put ourselves in a good position going over there. We know it's going to be a hot one over there in the second leg, so you obviously want to try and prioritise getting this first leg, hopefully with a clean sheet with a few goals, and then you can go over there and the other team has to chase. Our objective is to win tomorrow.'
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Christian Wade's attitude sees him make mark in THIRD professional sport
CHRISTIAN Wade is proving mind over matter and seizing his chance makes sure he comes good as he makes his mark in a THIRD professional sport. The former England and British Lions RU star scored a try on his senior rugby league debut as Wigan saw off Huddersfield. Advertisement 3 Christian Wade has revealed how his attitude to taking chances is seeing him make his way in a third professional sport Credit: Just like when he made NFL giants Buffalo Bills' squad and scored a 65-yard touchdown with his first touch. And at the heart of it all is what goes on in his head, just as it did when he was a kid. Wade said: 'Don't worry about mistakes or what might go wrong. Just think about what can go right. 'There's no point because things are going to go wrong. Things going wrong is inevitable. Advertisement 'I hadn't played rugby league before, I've only been here four weeks, I've played the whole season with Gloucester. 'There were all these excuses you can have on it, but I was like, 'No, from the day I come here, I need to train like I'm playing, so when my opportunity comes, I'm ready to go. MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE Exclusive Exclusive 'On Wednesday it was like, 'Right Wadey, you're playing.' 'In the NFL, it's very rare you get opportunities. I got one in the fourth quarter and on my first touch, I scored. In rugby, it's the same. Advertisement Most read in Rugby League Exclusive 'There are loads when I had to seize the moment. That's propelled me on to the next opportunity. 'There are loads I didn't get, but I pride myself on any I've had in my career, I've made the most of them. 'I haven't always had the same opportunities everyone else has, but whatever I've had, I've always tried to do something with a bang. 'It's, 'When that opportunity arises, what are you going to do with it?' Advertisement 'When I was younger, I might get five minutes off the bench or play a whole game, but there was one opportunity where I got the ball. 3 Wade scored a try on his senior debut against Huddersfield Credit: 'If it's the one time, I'm scoring. I'm determined to make something of this opportunity, of this possession. That's what it's always been, trying to make something happen. 'I'd been waiting for one at Wigan, so it was like, 'OK, this is my opportunity to play. Try and make the most of it.'' Advertisement Wade, 34, had a shaky start but raced over in the second half of a 'crazy' experience. Even in just 80 minutes, his attitude to life shone through as he added ahead of today's visit of Hull FC: 'It was crazy. 'From the very start to the end, it was a whole different experience. The speed of the game. It's an aerobic game, we're constantly moving. There are no real rest periods. 'And a lot of contacts for me. Things like first and second carries, but that's my job. If that's my job, then I have to make sure I'm in there. Advertisement 3 Wade believes Junior Nsemba would be a superstar, whatever the code or competition Credit: 'Huddersfield did put a couple of high kicks up at me and I dropped a couple easy ones, which I wasn't happy about. 'That's the game, though. I could do better but you've got to try and ride it out.' Wade may be from down south and his accent definitely is not from Wigan but he has quickly integrated himself into the Warriors' squad. Advertisement And one player stands out more than most, Junior Nsemba. 'He was probably the first player I met at the Good Friday game with St Helens,' Wade recalled. 'But I knew was an up-and-coming superstar. Read more on the Irish Sun 'From the beginning, I was like, 'This guy's an absolute beast.' He's really big, but he's fast. He's got footwork. He's powerful, he's strong. 'He is something to fear, especially at his age now. What's he going to be like in five years? 100 per cent, he'd be a superstar in either code or any competition.' Advertisement
