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Stakeholder pensions are a form of simple personal pension which sees you save money into a pot - topped up by tax relief - which is handled by a pensions provider who invests it on your behalf. Schemes must meet minimum government requirements, with management charges capped at 1.5 per cent and no charge levied if you transfer to another stakeholder pension provider.   More... Can I pay extra into the second state pension so I get more than £144-a-week flat rate in 2016? SIPP vs stakeholder: how to choose the right type of personal pension Retiring soon? Get an annuity quote Is equity release right for you? Check this free guide There are a few notable differences between the two pensions: Standard Life offers 30 investment funds to choose from, along with five 'lifestyle options' in which money is automatically invested into funds based on your risk profile. Scottish Widows meanwhile offers 35 investment funds and six lifestyle profiles. While both charge a 1 per cent a

> Isr the landlord required to fix these problems and what is the best way to approach the issue? EW Nasty surprise: Many renters are dismayed to find problems in their new home Andrew Davidson, a landlord and tenant solicitor on the Contact Law solicitor network, says: Landlords are obliged to ensure that there are no issues with the structure, exterior, electrical, heating, hot water or sanitary conditions. Unless otherwise stated in your lease, as the tenant you are responsible for minor non-essential repairs and cosmetic issues. You also have an obligation to keep the property in good repair, not counting ordinary wear-and-tear.   More... My boiler is broken but my landlord doesn't seem to care! What are my rights? Are you a landlord? Find buy-to-let insurance deals here Find a solicitor In your case, to begin with you should make a list of the defects to the property and decide which ones you think come under the landlord’s obligations. This is somewhat subjective

Linda McKay, of This is Money, replies: One in three cars has a hidden history, according to vehicle checkers HPI. That means buying a second hand car can be gamble, as many unsuspecting people have been caught out by unscrupulous sellers who fail to declare finance or accident histories. But you need not find yourself out of pocket and at risk on the road. I asked our experts for advice on your behalf.   More... ASK THE EXPERTS: 'I live with and care for my mother but I'll be made homeless when she dies' How younger drivers can beat the car insurance trap - and even drive a more exciting car Can you find a better car insurance deal? Gavin Hill-Smith, of the AA, replies: When you're looking for a second-hand car, dealers are generally the safest route. You'll get the maximum legal protection with the least risk.   Buying privately can save you some money upfront, but you won't be protected legally if the car doesn't come up to scratch. It's up

I'm working at McDonalds, but the tax code that I have been allocated is BR, which causes a huge deduction on my paycheck. I read online that this code is used for someone who has more than one job, but I only have one. Is that tax code correct for me and, if not, what can I do to change it? JR McDonalds: Employee believes he may have been tax too much by HMRC. How to check your tax code. Patrick O'Brien, of HMRC, adds: The code 'BR', is used when all income is taxed at the basic rate - currently 20 per cent, most commonly used for a second job or pension. You should contact HMRC as soon as possible on 0845 300 0627 so we can correct your code and get any tax they have overpaid back to you. Any overpaid tax for 2012/13 tax year will be repaid as part of our annual end of year reconciliation process. Please visit the HMRC site for a list of tax codes and what they mean.   More... How to check and challenge your tax code Find a solicitor Find an independ

Danny Cox, of investment specialist Hargreaves Lansdown, says: Your bank would normally be your first port of call since it will be more familiar with your business, the person running it and your current cash flow position.  To extend lending or overdrafts they may decide to use the house in Italy as security, although using an overseas property is unlikely. An alternative would be to take a mortgage on the Italy property.   More... How to get a mortgage if you are are a small business owner or self-employed Why businesses are flocking to lend-to-save Could you be eligible for a business loan with Funding Circle? Another would be to consider peer to peer lenders such as Funding Circle, where a collective number of private investors might lend the money they need.   A business plan setting out how much money is required, what it will be used for and the anticipated repayment timescale will help with any loan application. This doesn’t have to be pages and pages,

> P.H.replies: The inheritance tax nil rate band for tax year 1996-97 was £200,000. The unused proportion (13/200ths) can be transferred to you at the rate applying on your own death. The nil rate band is now fixed at £325,000 until April 2018, so if you died before then the allowance would be increased by £21,125 – 13/200ths x £325,000. To claim this additional allowance, the executor of your will would need copies of your wife’s will (and any deed of variation), the IHT return for her estate, details of any jointly owned assets that passed to you or others on her death and any gifts she made in the seven years before her death.   More... Could equity release be a good option for you? find out using our fere guide Can you find a better annuities deal? Find an independent financial adviser When would you need a specialist will solicitor? Pension confusion K.P.writes: I was receiving pension credit but the payment stopped after I inherited some money.  I cannot make sense of the

My partner and I have lived abroad for the past 11 years. We have just sold our property and we now want to return home to the UK, where we lived for more than 40 years before moving away. We are looking at getting a mortgage, but it would appear that no financial institution will consider us because they say they are unable to obtain a credit check on us. We both have government pensions that give us enough income to cover any mortgage repayments and, while we lived abroad, we used our UK bank and credit cards. As we have no debts we find it very strange that we can't get a mortgage. How long does it take to build up enough information to obtain a credit check so that we can get the ball rolling and get ourselves a mortgage? Returning home: How can you build up a positive credit history while living abroad.   More... How to improve and protect your credit rating How to get out of debt: Your ten-step plan to getting your finances back under control LETTER TEMPLATE: Cr