George Michael’s House to be Rented for £80,000 a Month

Late British singer George Michael performs at a concert in 2012. (AP)
Late British singer George Michael performs at a concert in 2012. (AP)
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George Michael’s House to be Rented for £80,000 a Month

Late British singer George Michael performs at a concert in 2012. (AP)
Late British singer George Michael performs at a concert in 2012. (AP)

The family of late British singer George Michael decided to rent his mansion for £80,000 a month.

Michael's family decided after his death to keep his £11 million (about $ 15 million) property in the Highgate area, north London, but it is now eager to rent it.

A source said: “George’s home is ready to rent and is being secretly touted to ultra-rich elite clientele,” The Sun newspaper reported.

Worth 5 million dollars, the house boasts five bedroom suites, a summer house and swimming pool, along with secret access to London’s Hampstead Heath via a back gate.

Michael was found dead at his home in Oxfordshire, west London, on Christmas Eve in 2016 at age 53. A forensic report revealed he had heart trouble and liver problems.

Michael is considered one of the most successful singers in the world. He was named “King of Pop” in Britain and sang pop and pop rock. Michael performed duets with stars such as Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Lisa Stansfield.

Michael was born in East Finchley. His father is Kyriacos Panayiotou, a Greek Cypriot restaurateur, had immigrated to Britain in the 1950s, where he changed his name to Jack Panos.

His mother is Lesley Angold, who was an English dancer.

Michael spent most of his childhood in Kingsbury, London, in the home his parents bought soon after his birth; he attended Kingsbury High School.

While he was in his early teens, the family moved to Radlett. There, Michael attended Bushey Meads School in Bushey, where he befriended his future “Wham!” partner Andrew Ridgeley.

The two had the same career ambition of being musicians.

Michael busked on the London Underground, performing songs such as "'39" by Queen.

His involvement in the music business began with his working as a DJ, playing at clubs and local schools around Bushey, Stanmore and Watford. This was followed by the formation of a short-lived ska band with Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Leaver and David Mortimer (later known as David Austin).



UK Living Standards Set to Stagnate for Rest of 2020s, Think Tank Says

Buses cross Waterloo Bridge with the City of London financial district seen behind, in London, Britain, March 5, 2024. (Reuters)
Buses cross Waterloo Bridge with the City of London financial district seen behind, in London, Britain, March 5, 2024. (Reuters)
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UK Living Standards Set to Stagnate for Rest of 2020s, Think Tank Says

Buses cross Waterloo Bridge with the City of London financial district seen behind, in London, Britain, March 5, 2024. (Reuters)
Buses cross Waterloo Bridge with the City of London financial district seen behind, in London, Britain, March 5, 2024. (Reuters)

Living standards in Britain look set to barely grow over the rest of the decade and poorer households are likely to suffer a drop, in part due to a welfare squeeze, according to a report published by a think tank on Thursday.

Median household incomes after taxes, benefits including pensions and housing costs are on course to rise by a total of just 1% more than inflation by the 2029/30 fiscal year, the Resolution Foundation said. Lower-income families are expected to see a 1% fall.

Typical households paying mortgages will see incomes fall by 1% as the impact of higher interest rates feeds through to more borrowers. By contrast, people who own their homes outright are set to see their incomes grow by 3%, the foundation said.

The biggest winners are likely to be pensioners with their incomes forecast to rise by 5%. Families with children are set to have no income growth.

Adam Corlett, principal economist at the think tank, said the forecasts could prove to be too gloomy if the economy grows more quickly than expected. Low-income households would benefit if the government scraps a two-child limit on some family benefits, he said.

The limit was introduced by the previous Conservative government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering ditching it. However, he has said he will not reverse plans to make it harder for people to claim long-term sickness and disability benefits which have run into opposition within his Labor Party.