• A new study has found that real estate is one of the most stressful industries in the UK
• Human health and social work ranked first, while public defence is in second
• HSE data was examined to find the number of self-reported stress illnesses per 100,000 workers 

New research has revealed the most stressful industries in the UK, with the human health and social work industry taking the top spot.  

The study, conducted by personal injury experts at Claims.co.uk, analysed HSE data to examine the number of stress-related illnesses caused or worsened by employment per 100,000 workers from March 2022 to March 2023; the highest number of stress illnesses determined the ranking.  

The human health and social work industry ranks first on the list; the study found that 3,530 people per 100,000 workers have been impacted by stress at work. However, this industry has one of the largest average salary ranges, between £17,000 to £63,000, and includes jobs such as doctors, therapists, and nursing home assistants.  

Public defence, which has an average salary range of £18,000 to £31,000, is revealed as the second most stressful industry. For every 100,000 workers, 3,260 reported a stress-related illness, meaning that security guards and prison officers are highly likely to suffer from work-related stress.  

The education industry is third on the list, which has an average salary range of £28,000 to £40,000. For every 100,000 workers, 2,720 people reported work-related stress, which is an overwhelming figure of almost 3 in 100.  

Ranking fourth on the list is the professional, scientific, and technical industry, which includes jobs such as solicitors and barristers, and has an average salary range of £25,000 to £48,000. The study revealed that for every 100,000 workers, 2,310 have suffered from work-related stress.  

The finance industry ranks fifth on the list, with 2,140 workers reporting a stress-related illness per 100,000 people. However, the finance industry has a high salary range, ranging from £28,000 to £54,000, where job roles include accountants and bankers. 

The real estate industry ranks sixth on the list, which has an average salary range of £26,000 to £54,000 and includes jobs such as estate agents and property managers. The study reveals that for every 100,000 workers, 2,070 reported a stress-related illness.  

The information and communication industry places seventh on the list, which has an average salary range of £24,000 to £44,000 and jobs such as IT workers and graphic designers. The study found that for every 100,000 workers, 1,870 people reported stress-related illnesses.   

The arts and entertainment industry is eighth on the list; for every 100,000 workers, 1,820 people reported a stress-related illness. The industry includes jobs such as art directors, makeup artists, and background actors, and has an average salary range of £25,000 to £47,000. 

Ranking ninth on the list is the wholesale and retail trade industry, where 1,530 people per 100,000 workers suffered from work-related stress. The average salary range is this industry is £19,000 to £34,000 and includes jobs such as sales administrators and retail cashiers. 

The accommodation and food service industry is tenth on the list, which includes jobs such as bar staff and restaurant workers and has an average salary range of £14,000 to £45,000; 1,430 people in this industry suffered from work-related stress per 100,000 workers. 

Tips On Making a Personal Injury Claim for Stress 

#1. Identify The Cause of Your Stress 

The most common causes for stress at work often arise from heavy workloads, lack of employer support, and workplace bullying. When starting a personal injury claim for emotional harm, it’s crucial to identify the cause of your stress. Legally, employers owe their employees a duty of care in the workplace, so it’s important to recognise when they have harmed your emotional health.   

#2. Make a Note of Your Emotions 

In order to identify the cause of work-related stress, it can be useful to make a note of your emotions on a daily basis. This can help you keep track of your emotional health and can allow you to determine whether your mental health has significantly worsened during your employment. These notes can also be a helpful source during GP appointments.  

#3. Speak to Your Employer About Any Concerns 

Before starting a personal injury claim, it can be helpful to vocalise your concerns to your employer where possible. Perhaps the situation could be mitigated through negotiation, such as requesting a lighter workload; however, if your employer refuses to consider your mental well-being when distributing heavy workloads, this could be a potential cause for a personal injury claim.  

#4. Keep Track of Any GP Appointments 

It’s crucial to keep track of any GP appointments and maintain these medical records – many personal injury claims have to be submitted within three years of when the injury/emotional harm occurred, so these records can help speed up personal injury claims.  

A spokesperson from Claims.co.uk,commented on the study: “We are currently living amid a mental health crisis, which means that it’s essential for us to look after ourselves and recognise when our mental wellbeing may be at risk, particularly in the workplace.” 

“It’s fundamental for employers to protect their employees’ mental health. One of the main ways this can be done is to regularly check in with employees, aiming to create an open environment to discuss thoughts and feelings.” 

Some people may assume that personal injury claims are limited to broken bones and cuts, but they also extend to what people can’t see, such as mental, emotional, or psychological harm; so, if you have experienced stress at work, it is in your best interest to speak to a legal professional.” 

This information was provided by personal injury experts at Claims.co.uk

By Sarah Thompson, Managing Director, Mortgage Scout

Compared with a decade ago, today’s first-time buyers are older, more likely to buy with a partner and more likely to have dependent children. This highlights how getting on the property ladder is becoming increasingly hard for younger borrowers. However, lenders are always introducing new propositions to ensure solutions are in place to help prospective homeowners buy their first property. It could be you who helps them!

The 1980s, perhaps best known for its music and the invention of Super Mario, was a time when the average house price was £22,676 and the average deposit was £3,000. Fast forward to 2018, and we see a completely different picture: the average house price is £224,353, and the average deposit costs you £34,000. This shows a whopping growth of around 890% in house prices! However, wage growth hasn’t seen the same hike, so it is no surprise that borrowers are continuously finding it harder.

For many, the Bank of Mum and Dad seems like the only option. According to the Social Mobility Commission, over 30% of UK households with dependent children hold assets that could be used towards a deposit to purchase a home. This could lead to an increase in the number of first-time buyers turning to help from their family. The Social Mobility Commission’s research suggests this could rise to nearly 40% by 2039/40. Do you hold assets that could give your loved ones the gift of a lifetime?

Joint borrower, sole proprietor mortgages (JBSP)

JBSP mortgages are one solution that may help. They’re aimed at bridging the gap between salaries and house prices and are geared towards helping close family members get onto the property ladder or move home. Lend a helping hand to your children’s plans of purchasing their first home!

Joint borrower, sole proprietor mortgages allow you to support your family by adding your name to the mortgage, increasing income and increasing the maximum loan available. A JBSP mortgage is a financial arrangement where up to four individuals can jointly secure a mortgage, but only one person legally owns the property.

This type of mortgage is commonly chosen by parents who wish to help their children step onto the property ladder, but it’s also used by siblings or friends combining their incomes to buy a house with only one residing in it.

A key aspect of JBSP mortgages is that while all borrowers are jointly responsible for the mortgage repayments, reducing the risk for the lender, there’s also a collective liability. If one borrower fails to pay, the others must compensate for the shortfall. It’s, therefore, essential to enter into a JBSP mortgage with trusted individuals and clearly understand each other’s financial situations.

Only the sole owner of the property, the proprietor, is listed on the title deeds. This means other borrowers have no legal rights to the property or any increase in its value. Lenders usually stipulate that this individual must reside in the property. This arrangement is ideal for those who want to assist with a property purchase without retaining a long-term interest in it, allowing for an easy exit when the proprietor can take on the mortgage independently.

In terms of operation, JBSP mortgages are similar to standard mortgages. To evaluate affordability, lenders assess all borrowers’ financial circumstances, including income and outgoings. Borrowers must also meet the lender’s specific criteria, such as age limits and creditworthiness. The age limit for a JBSP mortgage typically caps at 70 or 80 years at the end of the mortgage term. When the initial fixed-rate or discount period ends, the sole owner has the option to remortgage solely in their name.

One of the advantages of a JBSP mortgage is its potential impact on Stamp Duty. Generally, purchasing a property with someone who already owns a home attracts a higher Stamp Duty rate. However, under a JBSP mortgage, the non-owning parties don’t trigger this additional charge.

Planning for unexpected scenarios, such as illness or unemployment, is prudent, like any mortgage. Income protection insurance can effectively ensure mortgage repayments and other bills are covered during such times.

Raising a deposit

Affordability is not the only challenge to first-time buyers and joint borrowers; sole proprietor mortgages may not be the best solution for everyone, so there are other options you may want to consider. If your loved ones cannot raise a deposit, you can still help. You can use your property or savings as security for their mortgage instead of gifting them a deposit. Many lenders are offering these types of products, too.

Orlando Reid is setting the tone this year for marketing co-living inspired developments with the launch of Lofthaus in central Preston on the 12^th January.  The city has been proclaimed the number one place to live and work in the Northwest by PwC; in 2023, Money Supermarket ranked Preston first as the best place to raise a family, and it is deemed the top city for entrepreneurship in the Northwest. 

Cheshire family-owned development company, Belgravia are very at home in this vibrant region and in touch with what buyers and investors want – driving the initiative of creating community inspired co-living developments for people of all ages, who want an affordable flexible home and a more connected lifestyle with a broad choice of amenities, managed services and first-class technology under one shared roof.

Construction of Lofthaus is scheduled to begin in April and will be one of Belgravia’s most dynamic developments, designed by David Cox Architects to reflect the dramatic local landscape.  It will be the tallest residential building with 22 storeys centrally located in the city’s Market Quarter and University Gateway, dramatically mirroring the local landscape’s terrain and form.  Lofthaus will offer 307 apartments from studios to one- and two-bedroom flats and penthouses.  Studios start at around £99,950 and the most expensive corner penthouse with two bedrooms is available for £435,050. Construction is planned over 18 months and due for completion in Q4 2025.

Preston’s accessibility via road and rail has helped to put it on the property investor’s map. The city is intersected by four motorways – M6, M61, M55, M65.  It takes just 40 minutes by car to get to Manchester and Liverpool with rail services taking around 35 minutes.  London and Glasgow are on direct train lines taking two hours. For breathtaking scenery and country escapes, The Yorkshire Dales and Lake District are just 45 minutes’ drive away.

Baljit Arora, Managing director at Orlando Reid commented: “Lofthaus will be catering to the escalating demand for co-living spaces in Preston as a place-making community destination in one of the most exciting areas of the city.”

In the last 12 months, Preston has seen property prices increase by 21% according to Zoopla, Dataloft and Land Registry.  It’s modern university UCLAN has been ranked top in the Northwest for five consecutive years, and similarly for five years, The Times has named it best for the student experience – it has a student and university staff population of 60,000.  Currently, UCLAN is in the 6% of the world’s best universities. 

Belgravia’s Chris Newell said: ”Lofthaus reflects the type of development that has long been a successful residential model in the Far East and other major cosmopolitan cities. This is now gaining traction in the UK as millennials, professionals and students embrace a vibrant community lifestyle in a space that can flexibly respond to their changing needs.”

 www.orlandoreid.co.uk