More than half of new-build homes 'have major faults', plus the best city cycle schemes

About 51% of owners of recent new-builds have problems including construction, fittings and utilities, a Shelter survey has found. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Hello and welcome to this week’s Money Talks – a roundup of the week’s biggest stories and some things you may have missed.

Money news

Tory £1bn inheritance tax cut ‘will worsen north-south divide’

Research by Rachel Reeves MP shows plans to increase tax threshold will benefit rich families in south-east England. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Raising pension age will mean many people die before getting it, say MPs

Hotpoint tells tumble dryer owners: unplug faulty machines due to fire risk

Viagogo ticket rip-off concerns prompt May to promise crackdown

More than half of new-build homes in England ‘have major faults’

Feature

On your bike: the best and the worst of city cycle schemes

As bike-sharing in London hits a record high, we explore schemes across the globe. Photograph: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

In pictures

City-centre homes

A flat for sale in the City of London for £620,000.

In the spotlight

The new 12-sided £1 coin arrives this month, and you will only have six months to offload the old ones. It’s also just 10 weeks until paper £5 notes are history, writes Rupert Jones.

The new bimetallic £1 coin is thinner and lighter than the round pound. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Consumer champions

How ignoring a ‘scam’ penalty notice cost us £300 in fees

Does YouGov ever pay out for surveys or is it a sham?

Going nowhere as French train tickets are a no-show

Jessops leaves me out of the picture over movie camera repairs

Money deals

Make sure you’re covered with great value Guardian travel insurance, provided by Voyager.

You could save on international money transfers with free online transfers and competitive exchange rates from Guardian International Money Transfers, provided by Moneycorp.