As the budget has not increased Stamp Duty or applied any further taxation on buying a home other than the "Mansion Tax" on properties over £2 Million, 2026 looks likely to be a good year to buy a new home for those seeking a home of less than £2 Million.
Segments Largely Unaffected
- Mainstream Market (under £500k): The vast majority of homeowners and buyers are in the mainstream market, which remains relatively stable. The lack of disruptive changes to core property taxes, such as Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), provides a degree of stability for most transactions.
- Committed Movers: Many people move for life reasons (family, relocation, jobs) which are often more significant drivers than specific tax adjustments, keeping a steady base level of demand.
- Limited Companies: Landlords operating through limited companies remain largely unaffected by the new property income tax changes, in contrast to individual landlords.