Homeowners and prospective buyers are urging the government to take action on Council Tax, Stamp Duty and housebuilding ahead of the Budget, according to research from specialist lender Together.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that 37% want better support with Council Tax payments and a review of tax bands to improve affordability.

This makes council tax reform the most popular measure respondents said would help restore confidence in the housing market.

A further 33% want the government to clarify its intentions on Stamp Duty, including whether reform is planned and when any changes could be introduced.

The findings come as households face continued pressure from housing costs and a tightening mortgage market.

Questions over taxation and housing supply remain key for existing homeowners and those hoping to get on the property ladder.

Although the Prime Minister has ruled out changing Stamp Duty in the Budget, the research suggests the public wants greater certainty over the future of the tax.

Stamp Duty is often cited as a barrier to downsizing, potentially discouraging older homeowners and those with surplus space from moving to smaller properties.

More than a quarter of respondents (26%) said the government should introduce measures to encourage downsizing and free up larger family homes.

The findings highlight concerns that the costs associated with moving home can restrict mobility within the property market, preventing households from moving into properties better suited to their needs.

The research also points to strong public support for measures to increase housing supply and accelerate development.

Almost a third of respondents (32%) want councils and housing associations to receive the funding needed to deliver social housing at scale.

Meanwhile, 25% said the Budget should unlock brownfield land and regenerate existing communities, while 23% want the government to remove barriers preventing homes that have already received planning consent from being built.

A further 19% said the government should avoid penalising or stigmatising property investment.

The Government is also expected to outline key details of its Your First Home scheme in the Budget.

The proposed equity-loan scheme is designed to help eligible first-time buyers purchase new-build homes with deposits of 2.5%, supported by a government equity loan worth 20%.

However, the scheme’s wider impact on the housing market remains uncertain, with its effectiveness likely to depend on uptake among eligible buyers.

Ryan Etchells, chief commercial officer at Together, said: “For many, Council Tax has outstripped both inflation and wage growth in recent years, and has become a difficult cost to bear in tandem with soaring mortgage costs.”

Etchells added that the research showed homeowners and aspiring buyers wanted more than financial support, with respondents also calling for action to ease pressures across the property market.

He said Stamp Duty remained an obstacle to a more fluid housing market, where downsizing could be encouraged and families could move into homes better suited to their circumstances.

He also highlighted public support for large-scale social housing delivery, unlocking land for development and regenerating existing communities.

While the Your First Home scheme could have some impact, Etchells warned that its effect might be limited if uptake was low.

“Any other policy decisions – or indecisions – which affect the property market could have a very significant impact on personal finances, and it’s crucial that it is not overlooked on Budget day,” he said.

The OnePulse survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted between 14 and 16 October 2026.