UK Budget 2026: what it means for property
Budget 2026 did not change stamp duty or capital gains tax rates. The big changes for property are elsewhere. Tax on rental profit rises to 24%, 44% and 49% from April 2027. Small brownfield housing sites lose a nature rule called biodiversity net gain. First-time buyers of new-builds get a 20% government loan. And landlords in England will pay £65 a year per property to register.
Published , the day of the Budget. Every Budget figure links to the official document it comes from. General information, not tax or financial advice.
Budget 2026 guides: All 21 points · Tax · Building and buying · Landlords
| Change | Detail | From |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty | Rates unchanged; the 5% surcharge on extra homes stays | No change |
| Capital gains tax | Rates unchanged at 18% and 24% | No change |
| Tax on rental profit | 24%, 44% or 49%, up from 20%, 40% or 45% | 6 April 2027 |
| Corporation tax | Main rate stays capped at 25% | No change |
| Business Asset Disposal Relief | Lifetime limit halves from £1m to £500,000 | 6 April 2027 |
| Mansion tax (High Value Council Tax Surcharge) | £2,500 to £7,500 a year on homes in England worth £2m or more | April 2028 |
| VAT on land for social housing | 0% on land sold to registered housing associations | 1 April 2027 |
| Biodiversity net gain | Housing on brownfield sites up to 1.5 hectares in England is exempt | Date to be set |
| Building regulations | No major changes this Parliament, except building safety | This Parliament |
| Your First Home | 20% government loan for first-time buyers of new-builds in England | First loans April 2027 |
| Your First Home developer fee | 1% to 4% of each sale price, in tiers by homes sold through the scheme each year | April 2027 |
| First Time Buyer ISA | Replaces the Lifetime ISA for new savers: 25% bonus on first homes up to £450,000 | April 2029 |
| Planning data | Councils in England to publish key planning documents as open data | End of 2027 |
| OBR forecast: house prices | About 2% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027, below inflation | Forecast |
| Landlord registration | £65 a year per rented property in England | Rollout from 15 December 2026 |
| Mortgage interest relief | The tax credit rises from 20% to 24% | 6 April 2027 |
| Rent data for HMRC | Consultation on letting agents and deposit schemes reporting rent | Consultation to 20 January 2027 |
| Payments on account | Smaller payments, more often; two tax years overlap in the changeover | April 2029 |
| VAT on energy-saving materials | Back to 5% from 0% | 1 April 2027 |
| Overnight Visitor Levy | Mayors and other regional authorities in England get the power to charge one | Law to come |
| OBR forecast: rents | Rents more likely than not to rise steadily, as demand outstrips supply | Forecast |
Looking for your next development site?
See 13,512 sites on one map. Most are council brownfield land. The rest are planning approvals where we found no sign anything was built.
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Which guide do I need?
- Tax: stamp duty, capital gains tax, tax on rent, the mansion tax and VAT on land.
- Building and buying: the brownfield BNG exemption, Your First Home, building rules and the OBR forecast.
- Landlords: the £65 fee, mortgage interest relief, rent data for HMRC and VAT on insulation.
Common questions
Did stamp duty change in Budget 2026?
No. The rates stay the same, and so does the 5% surcharge on extra homes. Only small rules changed.
How much tax will landlords pay on rent from April 2027?
24%, 44% or 49% of rental profit, by income band. Today it is 20%, 40% or 45%. Companies pay corporation tax instead.
What is the Your First Home scheme?
A government loan for first-time buyers in England. It covers 20% of a new-build home's price. The first loans start in April 2027.
Is biodiversity net gain being scrapped?
No. Only housing on brownfield sites of up to 1.5 hectares in England will be exempt. The start date is still to be set.
What is the landlord registration fee?
£65 a year for each rented property in England. The service starts rolling out on 15 December 2026, and registering will be the law.
Sources
- Budget 2026 (the Red Book), HM Treasury, 28 October 2026
- Economic and fiscal outlook, October 2026, Office for Budget Responsibility
- Budget 2026 policy costings, HM Treasury
- Your First Home and High Value Council Tax Surcharge factsheets, GOV.UK
Checked against the published documents on . Details can change as legislation is drafted, so check the latest guidance or speak to a qualified adviser before acting. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
Budget 2026 guides: All 21 points · Tax · Building and buying · Landlords