Chancellor’s property tax proposals set to hit Londoners: Compare My Move

Labour’s proposed property tax on homes sold for over £500,000 has sparked concern that it will hit Londoners hardest, with average prices in the capital well above this threshold.

Compare My Move’s Dave Sayce warned the measure could accelerate the trend of residents leaving London, as sellers face greater pressure on prices and buyers shy away from properties near the limit.

Critics argue the tax may create distortions in the market and drive more people out of the capital, while industry voices stress that any reforms must support first-time buyers and reflect regional variations. Some, however, dismiss the plan as a short-term fix unlikely to address deeper economic challenges.

Landlords face national insurance hike on rental income: Report  

The Treasury is reportedly considering adding National Insurance to landlords’ rental income in a bid to raise £2bn, as part of wider efforts to strengthen public finances.

Critics warn the move would further squeeze an already embattled buy-to-let sector, following years of tax changes, tighter rules and rising costs, while also reducing the supply of rental homes. Industry experts caution that higher landlord taxes are likely to be passed on to tenants through rent increases, exacerbating affordability pressures at a time when demand is outstripping supply.

The proposal comes amid broader discussions on new property taxes, including levies on high-value homes and property sales above £500,000.

FCA cuts data reporting for 36,000 firms to ‘reduce burdens’

The Financial Conduct Authority is cutting data reporting requirements for 95% of authorised firms, removing the need for around 36,000 firms to submit nil returns and streamlining supervisory publications.

The regulator says the changes will ease administrative burdens, simplify access to information, and focus data collection on areas of real value, supporting its Consumer Duty review and commitment to “smarter, more effective regulation”.

The move follows government pressure on regulators to reduce red tape and boost economic growth.

Mansion tax may hit current high-value homes market, says industry  

Reports that the Treasury may introduce a so-called mansion tax on homes worth over £1.5m, by ending capital gains exemptions on primary residences, have raised concerns over market disruption in higher-value areas, particularly London and the South East.

Experts warn the prospect could deter buyers, push downsizers to sell quickly, and distort prices as sellers attempt to avoid thresholds, while uncertainty may delay transactions. However, commentators stress the plans remain speculative, politically sensitive, and far from certain to materialise.

Remortgaging ‘painful’ for deals signed before 2022: Deutsche Bank  

Deutsche Bank warns that homeowners remortgaging three-year-old deals this year could see their monthly payments double, as rates jump from below 2% to over 4% following the fallout from the 2022 mini-Budget.

While around 1.8 million borrowers are expected to refinance in 2024, the bank says the sharpest rise in costs has already passed, with many on shorter deals having already moved to higher rates.

Those who secured mortgages after 2022 are likely to face little change when refixing, and although refinancing will squeeze some households, Deutsche Bank expects only a modest drag on consumption, particularly if mortgage rates continue to edge down.

Truss warns of BoE ‘reckoning’, politicians should set base rate  

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has called for politicians to take control of setting interest rates, arguing that the Bank of England and Treasury have trapped the UK in a “doom loop” of high taxes, weak growth and rising debt.

Speaking on Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast, she backed Donald Trump’s push to curb central bank independence, saying a “reckoning” is coming for global monetary authorities. Truss criticised the Bank for benefiting asset holders while pricing younger people out of homeownership, and attacked the OBR’s influence over fiscal policy.

Her remarks come as UK borrowing costs hit near 27-year highs and Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares new tax rises, with critics warning that political control of rates would risk short-termism and market instability.

Bradford retains crown as UK’s top homes hotspot: OnTheMarket

Bradford has held onto its position as the UK’s top housing hotspot for a ninth consecutive quarter, according to OnTheMarket, with strong buyer demand also pushing Coventry into second place and Stoke-on-Trent into the top ten.

By contrast, southern cities such as Brighton and Bristol slipped to the bottom of the rankings, reflecting the ongoing north–south divide in affordability and activity.

OnTheMarket’s Jason Tebb said buyers are favouring better-value northern locations despite recent rate cuts and looser lending, as the high cost of living and rising property values continue to challenge affordability.

Reapit report highlights concerns over Renters’ Rights Bill

New research from Reapit shows widespread unease in the property sector over looming regulatory changes, with nearly 60% of agents, landlords and sales professionals citing compliance as their biggest concern for 2025.

The Renters’ Rights Bill, set to abolish fixed-term tenancies and no-fault evictions while tightening repair standards and enforcement, is viewed as particularly challenging, with over 60% of respondents dissatisfied with the draft. Additional pressure is coming from future EPC upgrades.

The government says it is working to ease some burdens by improving bailiff processes, introducing digital possession services and exploring faster rent assessments, but confidence in the reforms remains low.

English housing stock full of drafty spare rooms: Nationwide

Nationwide research shows that while England’s housing stock has grown by 2.1 million homes in the past decade to 25.4 million, more than half of owner-occupied properties are under-occupied, with two or more spare bedrooms.

In contrast, overcrowding is a bigger issue in the social rented sector, where 8% of homes fall short of bedroom standards. Commentators argue that encouraging homeowners to let spare rooms could ease housing pressures.

The report also highlights improving energy efficiency across the stock, with social housing leading due to stricter regulation, though green technologies like heat pumps remain rare. Solar panels and EV charging points are becoming more common, particularly in newer builds, pointing to a gradual shift towards more sustainable housing.

FCA warns consumers over rising scammer threats

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned consumers to be vigilant after receiving nearly 5,000 reports of scams impersonating the regulator in the first half of 2025, with 480 victims tricked into sending money.

Fraudsters often claim to recover lost crypto or loan funds, or cite court judgments to extract payments, targeting mainly those aged 56 and over.

Experts highlight that the true scale is likely higher and that financially vulnerable individuals, particularly retirees accessing their pensions, remain prime targets.