IoT security: Your smart home device is a cyber security risk waiting to happen September 28, 2018 In the age of Google Home and Amazon Alexa, many modern households are home to one or more smart devices. While these gadgets can help with day-to-day tasks and generally make life easier – it's also opened up the possibilities of cyber attackers breaching vulnerable devices in the home. A new survey from Open-Xchange found that [...]
Peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle gears up for £1.5bn valuation in London listing September 28, 2018 British peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle has valued its debut initial public offering (IPO) at £1.5bn, despite initially having aimed to raise as much as £1.8bn. The firm, backed by Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, tested investor appetite in the run-up to next week’s debut, selling off shares at 440p on London’s main market. Read more: [...]
Bupa fined £175,000 after employee puts customers’ data up for sale on dark web September 28, 2018 Health firm Bupa has been fined £175,000 after an employee was able to access thousands of patients' files to sell on the dark web. Data watchdog the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said Bupa did not have effective security in place to stop the employee, who extracted personal information from 547,000 customers. The employee was able to [...]
Interiors: Robert Brain is saving London’s trees from the chipper and turning them into beautiful furniture September 28, 2018 When trees in London are felled, they often meet their end in a chipper. But what a waste of beautiful wood – oak, beech, ash and even London plane. As a carpenter, the aptly named Robert Brain put his mind to the task of how it could be reused. After two years working on his [...]
Opinion: High net worth millennials are passing on the fixer-upper villa in Tuscany in favour of modern towers in global cities September 28, 2018 The millennial generation have different tastes and attitudes to their now middle-aged Generation X forebears. As they move into their thirties, they are playing an increasingly important role in the international property markets and many have significant buying power, either through inheritance or their own entrepreneurial flair. Previous generations favoured a stand-alone villa they could [...]
Uber drivers would rather keep self-employed worker status than sign a fixed contract, report claims September 28, 2018 Uber drivers would prefer to remain as independent contractors on flexible hour deals than work fixed hours as part of the company, according to responses from Uber drivers in a new study. In a report undertaken by Oxford University's Oxford Martin School entitled “Uber Happy? Work and Well-being in the 'Gig Economy'”, a resounding majority [...]
Legal Q&A: What is a Section 20 notice of repairs and what can I do if I think the cost is excessive? September 28, 2018 I have just received a section 20 notice relating to some repair works to our block. What does the notice mean and what can we do if we think the cost of the works is excessive? In the circumstances you describe, you will have been served with a Section 20 Notice because your landlord [...]
Property of the Week: The Old Vicarage in Fulham features a baptismal font as a sink in the downstairs bathroom September 28, 2018 If you’re looking for a sacred space to return to after a hard day at work, this quiet – yet large – family home in Fulham is a rare find. The gothic-style detached mansion was built in 1864 as a vicarage, but now it’s a one-of-a-kind home. Old St James Vicarage, Fulham, £10,500 a week [...]
Over a quarter of Londoners want to become entrepreneurs in the London startup scene September 28, 2018 More than one in four Londoners want to start their own business, according to a new survey from technology product designer Studio Graphene. Millennials and parents with children under the age of 18 are the most likely to hold this ambition, with 45 per cent of young people and 41 per cent of parents [...]
New homes: Our pick of the new builds and conversions going on sale in London this weekend September 28, 2018 New developments on the market this week Lime Quarter, Bromley-by-Bow From £300,000 Help to Buy homes are going on sale next to Devons Road DLR. The first 10 homes launched last night with one and two bedroom apartments available to purchase through the government’s equity loan scheme. Overall, there will be 130 homes, including three [...]