A wave of new council tax rules targeting second homes is fueling a surge in the UK’s rural property market. Sales of homes over £750,000 climbed 7% in June year-on-year, as falling prices and more listings attract buyers.
The tax reforms give Welsh councils the power to quadruple taxes on holiday homes and English councils the ability to double them. This has led many second-home owners to sell, increasing the number of country houses on the market by 9% in the second quarter.
This expanded inventory, coupled with lower prices, has shifted the advantage to buyers. Experts stress that pricing is key—properties priced right are snapped up, while overpriced ones struggle to sell.
Market analysts are cautiously optimistic, suggesting that the recent flurry of activity could signal a lasting recovery. Buyers now have more negotiating power than at any point since Brexit-era uncertainty.