‘It doesn’t work anymore’: Wealthy Brits snub UK property market in search of better returns Banking Affluent Brits are pulling out of the UK property market at pace, the boss of a major London bank has said, as high taxes, burdensome regulation and stagnant house prices prompt investors to look elsewhere for greater returns. Ian Rand, chief executive of Monument Bank, which caters for mass affluent account holders with six figures [...]
‘Soul destroying’: Why London’s luxury property market has taken the biggest hit in a decade Property It’s been almost three years since Emma first put her Kensington home on the market. With an initial asking price of just over £4m, she turned down a number of early low-ball offers before accepting one only slightly below what she’d wanted. But after months of dithering, the buyer pulled out at the last minute. [...]
Middle East expats rush back to London, luxury property rents spike Property An influx of people who have recently moved to the Middle East are now seeking short-term refuge in London, pushing up rents in the capital’s luxury property market – according to a leading estate agency. British, European and North American nationals have rushed to snap up short-term rentals in high-value London properties since the Iran [...]
Non-dom reforms blamed for collapse of Harrods luxury property arm April 9, 2026 The collapse of department store Harrods’ luxury property arm was due in large part to the government’s abolition of the non-dom tax regime, estate agents have said. Harrods Estates, which opened on the shop floor in 1897, has announced the closure of its only remaining office in Knightsbridge. London estate agents said the collapse of [...]
Mansion tax to hit 165,000 homeowners April 3, 2026 The mansion tax is expected to hit 165,000 homeowners in its first year, more than the 120,000 that was previously thought. The levy will hit 45,000 more properties than had been initially forecast, according to the fiscal watchdog, and thousands could successfully appeal the tax. The mansion tax, introduced at last year’s Budget, will not [...]
London luxury property market extends slump as Iran war knocks confidence March 19, 2026 London’s luxury property market continued its slump in February as market confidence took a hit from the Iran war just as it began to recover from last year’s Budget. There were 31 per cent fewer sales for prime properties – which defines those in the top five per cent of the market – this February [...]
Brits push down house prices to dodge mansion tax February 26, 2026 House sellers are already pushing sale values below £2m in a bid to avoid the coming “mansion tax” on expensive homes. The high-value council tax surcharge (HVCTS) is not due to be implemented until April 2028 but estate agents Hamptons have found Brits are already taking steps to avoid the levy. The “mansion tax” charge [...]
London property prices: Canary Wharf defies market trends February 20, 2026 Canary Wharf has become a hotspot for prime property in London with the number of homes listed for more than £1m, jumping 40 per cent in 2025 according to our annual Property Index. The index, which analyses listing data from Greater London and the Home Counties, found that 466 properties in the Docklands were listed [...]
Is it high time to buy in super-prime London? July 15, 2025 London’s super-prime market has been suffering from a glut of supply in the wake of damaging decision-making from successive governments. Ali Lyon asks, is the tide beginning to turn? To take a walk down Mayfair’s historic Upper Grosvenor Street is to be confronted by a quiet, but dramatic, changing-of-the-guard afoot in one of London’s most [...]
Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes are driving wealthy overseas investors to flee London July 14, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes have had the “feared impact” of driving wealthy overseas investors to flee London to escape double taxation of their worldwide income, the company behind The Shard has said. Real Estate Management (UK), which is ultimately owned by the State of Qatar, has revealed the exodus has resulted in it being [...]