SPRING HAS SPRUNG ON BIOSPHERE ISLAND

By Hannah Lisseter, TEP

The Easter eggs have been eaten, the sun has come out, and the cherry blossom is in full bloom. The Island comes to life at this time of year, both with increased visitor numbers and nature bursting forth in all its glory. Those of us who live here know how unique the Island is and it is great that, in 2019, UNESCO also recognised how internationally important our natural and cultural environment is by awarding the Island Biosphere Status.

Protecting our home and our local environment is more important now than ever before as we are constantly reminded of the impacts of climate change and the risk of natural disasters. Many of us on the Island have suffered from adverse weather events such as flooding and coastal erosion, and across the world people have lost their homes, possessions, and even sadly their lives as a direct consequence. As a result, we are seeing a rapid increase in climate-related migration. With ever-increasing demands on dwindling resources such as water and the consequent impact on crop production, we can all do more to live more sustainably and preserve our heritage in our little corner of the world. Protecting our environment goes hand in hand with protecting our home, whether it be general maintenance, security systems such as video doorbells, switching to greener energy sources, or installing water-saving devices like water butts. There are plenty of local organisations that are able to give advice and guidance to help us in our efforts.

In my line of work, I am seeing an increase in people asking me about protecting their home from care fees. There are several options available in later life planning, but the simple truth is that you cannot give away your money or your home if the intention is to avoid paying care fees as this is called ‘Deliberate Deprivation of Assets’. There is no time limit on how far back the Local Authority can look at your finances, so when considering any sort of gifting or later life planning, it is best to speak to an expert solicitor to ensure you and your home are protected and there aren’t any nasty surprises later on.

By Dale Howarth BUSINESS MENTOR AND CONSULTANT