A sweeping crackdown on second-home taxation is driving a surprising boom in the UK’s high-end rural property market. Sales of homes valued above £750,000 jumped 7% in June compared to last year, signaling a strong rebound as falling prices lure buyers back after a period of stagnation.
This shift is largely due to new council tax reforms targeting second homes. Welsh councils can now quadruple taxes on holiday properties, while English councils have the power to double them. These aggressive measures are prompting many second-home owners to put their countryside retreats up for sale, flooding the market with attractive options.
The result is a 9% increase in country house listings in the second quarter, creating a buyer-friendly environment. With more properties to choose from and prices trending down, buyers now hold the upper hand. Experts stress that realistic pricing is crucial—well-priced homes are snapped up quickly, while overpriced ones linger.
Market analysts remain cautiously optimistic, noting that June’s surge points to a lasting recovery. Buyers are enjoying more leverage than at any time since the uncertainty of Brexit in 2018, marking a dramatic shift from the frenzied demand of the pandemic years.