Autumn Budget 2025: What does the Budget mean for housing?

The Autumn Budget 2025 has landed and whilst the strongest focus is on homes worth over £2 million and buy-to-let investments, there may be implications for anyone considering a move. 

If you’re planning to make a move to a new retirement home, understanding the Budget may help you make informed decisions about your next property purchase or your move to a community for the over 55s.

Beechcroft, one of the country’s leading retirement developers, specialises in creating luxurious, high-quality homes, both houses and apartments, in outstanding locations across the southern counties. Designed exclusively for the over 55s, each Beechcroft development provides an estate management service and homes are spacious, easy to maintain and energy efficient – but how does the Autumn Budget 2025 affect our potential buyers?

What the Autumn Budget 2025 Means for Buyers

Taxes & Charges:

• The High Value Council Tax Surcharge.  Nicknamed the ‘Mansion Tax’ this new surcharge applies to homes over £2 million. Most Beechcroft homes fall well below this threshold, so typical buyers are unaffected.
• Property Income Tax: Increases target rental landlords, not owner-occupiers. If you’re buying a Beechcroft home to live in, this change won’t impact you.
• Stamp Duty: No changes were made to stamp duty. 
  
  

Market Conditions:

• House-price growth is expected to slow, and mortgage rates remain elevated. For retirement buyers, this could mean more stable or predictable financing when downsizing.
• Anyone over the age of 55 considering downsizing from a house worth £2 million to a high-quality retirement home may decide to do so before the High Value Council Tax Surcharge comes into effect