The number of house sales in October was 2% lower than in the same month a year earlier, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures.

Across the UK, an estimated 98,450 home sales took place in October 2025, which was 2% lower than in October 2024 but 2% higher than in September 2025.

In the Budget on Wednesday, the Government announced a high value council tax surcharge in England on homes above £2 million from April 2028.

There will be four price bands with the surcharge starting at £2,500-a-year for properties worth more than £2 million, and rising to £7,500 for properties worth more than £5 million.

The charge will sit on top of usual council tax and will be applied to property owners, rather than tenants.

The Government estimated that fewer than 1% of UK properties will be

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