Autumn Budget 2025: What It Means for Property Owners

The Autumn Budget is a key moment in the UK’s financial calendar, often shaping the outlook for property owners, investors, and buyers alike. While each year brings its own set of proposals and priorities, the broader themes - such as housing policy, taxation, and market confidence - remain central to long-term planning. At John D Wood & Co., we provide expert insight to help you stay ahead of the curve, offering clarity and guidance no matter how the landscape evolves.

Polly Ogden Duffy, Managing Director of John D Wood & Co., shares her insights:

Despite weeks of speculation, today’s confirmation of a council tax surcharge on properties worth over £2 million, due to take effect in 2028, will come as frustrating news for many homeowners, particularly in London and the South East. This is far from a tax on the super-prime; it captures thousands of ordinary family homes that are already facing pressures.

No one buys a property expecting its value to remain static, and any annual tax is likely to be partially offset by anticipated price growth. However, most owners also recognise that values tend to rise over time, meaning that purchasing a home just below the £2 million threshold offers little long-term protection from the surcharge. As with all policies of this kind, the devil lies in the detail, and all eyes will now be on how the valuation process is carried out and how any appeals are handled.

For sellers, realistic pricing remains critically important in today’s market. Buyers currently have more choice and are scrutinising value far more closely, but an annual charge of £2,500 to £7,500 is not large enough to deter serious purchasers at this level. At the top end especially, the wider economic backdrop and the quality of the home will continue to drive decisions far more than the surcharge itself. Clear pricing and proactive communication will be key to keeping sales moving in a market where confidence is shaped by conditions, not by this tax.


Polly Ogden Duffy
Managing Director
[email protected]