Business
Cost of living: Families are priced out of London, Assembly told
Kumail JafferLocal Democracy Reporting Service
AFP via Getty ImagesFamilies are being priced out of living in London due to rising costs and a lack of social housing, the London Assembly has been told.
The number of births in London in 2023 was 20% lower than the peak in 2012, with the sharpest decline in inner London, according to the Assembly’s Economy, Culture and Skills Committee.
The committee heard from experts on this trend, with child poverty campaigner Katherine Hill urging London’s mayor to make the capital a “child-friendly city”.
A spokesperson for the mayor said London’s population had “always fluctuated”, and the mayor had been doing “all he can” to support families with the cost of living.
The mayor’s office blamed falling numbers of primary school pupils in inner London on factors including “national falling birth rates, Brexit, housing costs and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis”.
In Pictures via Getty ImagesMs Hill, who is the strategic programme manager for child poverty campaign group 4in10, told the committee on Tuesday: “London rightly prides itself on being a diverse city – that should cut across all parameters, including age.
“In terms of getting people to have children and then stay in London with them, affordable housing and affordable childcare are the absolute key.”
She said families were being “priced out of areas where previously they have been able to live”, primarily due to availability of social housing.
Dr Bernice Kuang, a research fellow in demography at the University of Southampton, claimed Londoners still wanted to have an average of two children, but that this was not feasible for many in the capital.
She blamed a shift from social housing to private renting in inner London, adding that “private rented accommodation is not seen as the place to start a family”.
The mayor’s office claimed Sir Sadiq Khan had “started more new council homes for Londoners than any time since the 1970s and has funded free school meals to all state primary school children”.
Getty ImagesExperts said another reason for the drop in the number of families in London was the cost of childcare.
According to Coram Family and Childcare, parents of three to four year olds in inner London pay an average of £184.96 for 50 hours of childcare, even with the government’s free 30-hour offer, compared with a London average of £126.94.
Ms Dye said availability was often an even bigger problem than affordability, with “childcare deserts in parts of the city”.
The panel also expressed concerns about a lack of public green spaces for children to play in the capital.
‘Fantastic city for children’
The declining number of children born in the capital has forced many primary schools to close.
In February, a London Councils report predicted reception pupil numbers in the city would decrease by 3.6% over the next four years, which translates to 3,195 pupils or 117 classes.
Ms Hill said this would change “how our city feels” and that schools were “the heart of our communities”.
“If we lose them, we’re losing more than figures on a graph,” she said.
However, she acknowledged that “London is a fantastic city for children”, noting free transport and museums for children to take advantage of.
But, she added: “They need a roof over their head to be able to do that.”
Business
Top stocks to buy today: Stock market recommendations for November 4, 2025 – check list – The Times of India
Stock market recommendations:According to Somil Mehta, Head – Alternate Research, Capital Market Strategy, Mirae Asset Sharekhan, the top stocks to buy today on November 4, 2025 are Prestige, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries:Prestige – Buy in the range between Rs 1782 & Rs 1783; Stop Loss: Rs 1705; Target: Rs 1930Prestige has given a breakout of a small triangle pattern on the daily chart taken support at 10 daily moving average i.e. 1740 and the stock is expected to resume the uptrend. Momentum indicators have also given a positive crossover. Key resistance for the stock is 1810 & 1900 and support is at 1730.Sun Pharmaceutical Industries – Buy in the range between Rs 1706 & Rs 1707; Stop Loss: Rs 1640; Target: Rs 1830Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has been forming a small symmetrical Triangle pattern above 20 & 40 daily moving average and the stock is expected to resume the uptrend. Momentum indicators have also given a positive crossover. The stock has been consolidating in a broad range since last two weeks and has taken support at 20 daily moving average i.e. 1678, resuming the uptrend. The stock is expected to continue the up trend. Key resistance is at 1722 & 1748 and support is at 1670. (Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
Business
How To Claim Investments Of Deceased Holders: A Step-By-Step Guide For Mutual Funds & Bank Accounts
Last Updated:
Claiming mutual fund and bank account investments after a sudden death requires key documents and a step-by-step process for heirs. Learn how to proceed.
News18
A sudden death without nomination or a proper will may become a nightmare for the spouse or children of the deceased, posing a hindrance in acquiring investments in mutual fund and bank accounts. The transfer of investments and money is possible, though there are some processes that need to be completed before.
According to an estimate, around Rs 25,000 crore worth of shares and about nearly Rs 80,000 crore of bank deposits are lying unclaimed in the country. These assets often remain unclaimed due to inadequate documentation or heirs being unaware of their existence.
Let’s have a look at these step-by-step guide to claim the investments in MFs and deposits in bank accounts of the deceased ones:
Claiming Mutual Fund (MF) investments — step by step
1) Identify the folio(s) / AMC / registrar
Check statements, broker app, emails or CAMS/KARVY/CDSL records for the folio number and AMC (fund house).
2) Contact the AMC / Registrar (CAMS/KFinTech/etc.)
Inform them of the investor’s death. Ask for the Transmission / Death claim process and request the Transmission Request Form (often called Form T3 or a death-claim form). Many AMCs publish the list of required docs on their site.
3) Fill the transmission / claim form
Form will ask claimant details (nominee or legal heir), folio, bank details where proceeds should be credited, KYC details of claimant.
4) Gather required documents (usually)
- Death certificate (original or self-attested + attestation as required).
- Transmission request / claim form (signed).
- Proof of identity & address of claimant(s) (PAN, Aadhaar, passport, etc.). PAN is commonly required for the claimant.
- If nominee is minor — guardian proof / birth certificate.
- If no nominee: legal heir certificate / succession certificate / probate / will / family tree / affidavit (as per AMC).
- Cancelled cheque or bank proof for claimant’s bank account for payouts.
5) Submit to AMC / Registrar
Submit originals where required (often for death cert) and self-attested copies for others; follow AMC/registrar’s instructions (some accept scanned copies online, some need physical submission).
6) Processing & payout / transfer
Registrar/AMC verifies documents, updates folio (transmission to nominee/legal heir) and either: (a) transfers units to nominee/legal heir folio, or (b) redeems units and pays proceeds to bank account — based on request and folio type.
Times vary; check with the specific AMC/registrar for expected timeline.
7) If there’s disagreement among heirs
AMCs may require a court order or succession certificate for large or disputed claims.
Claiming bank accounts / fixed deposits — step by step
1) Contact the bank branch (home branch)
Inform them about the account holder’s death. Ask for the bank’s deceased claim or transmission procedure and the claim form they require (banks have standard forms). Some banks allow online initiation for certain cases.
2) Documents usually required
- Death certificate (original for verification).
- Account details (passbook, account number).
- KYC of claimant(s) — PAN, Aadhaar, passport, photos.
- Claim/form signed by claimant(s).
- Cancelled cheque / bank account proof where proceeds should be credited.
If no nominee or amount above specified limits, the bank may ask for: legal heir certificate, succession certificate, or probate as per the bank’s policy and amount thresholds. Many banks have simplified limits (small amounts may be settled on affidavit + ID proofs).
For joint accounts
If survivorship clause applies, surviving joint holder(s) can claim by presenting their ID + death cert. If account was “former or survivor”, the survivor can continue.
For fixed deposits
If nominee exists — nominee must present claim form + death cert + KYC to get FD proceeds. If no nominee — legal heirs/succession certificate route as per bank’s slabs (banks often have different documentation for small vs large sums).
Processing
Bank verifies documents, settles the balance or re-issues FD in heirs’ names per bank rules. Timelines & requirements vary across banks and by amount.
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst…Read More
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst… Read More
November 04, 2025, 06:30 IST
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The first of the biggest order of electric heavy goods vehicles for online giant Amazon were being launched into service on Tuesday.
Amazon said it would eventually have 160 eHGVs, the largest number of electric trucks in its global transportation network.
The vehicles will transport products between Amazon logistics hubs across the UK.
The company is also adding 800 new electric vans across the UK and extending pedestrian deliveries to London’s Borough of Camden.
Nicola Fyfe, of Amazon Logistics, said: “The first vehicles from our record-breaking eHGV order are now on Britain’s roads, transporting products between our hubs.
“This marks a major milestone in our journey to decarbonise our UK transportation network.
“These trucks, alongside more electric vans and on-foot deliveries, are a win for our customers, the environment, and our business.
“The challenge to scaling this approach across the logistics industry, however, is charging infrastructure. We’ve invested in our own facilities but need continued industry and government collaboration to develop the national network required for widespread electric vehicle adoption.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “This is exactly the kind of investment we want to see – putting more electric trucks on UK roads to cut emissions and power Britain’s economy.
“It speaks volumes that Amazon has chosen to make the UK the home of their biggest EV truck fleet globally and demonstrates how our £200 million investment to get more zero-emission lorries on our roads, alongside the infrastructure to keep them moving, is helping businesses to grow and delivering cleaner roads.”
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