One in five homeowners have said they are putting plans to sell on hold ahead of the November Budget, as concerns mount over potential tax changes, mortgage costs and Stamp Duty reforms, data from We Buy Any Home revealed.
The findings come as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver Labour’s first full Budget on Wednesday 26th November, with housing, tax and wider economic reforms expected to feature prominently.
Data from We Buy Any Home showed that among homeowners worried about affording their next property, almost half (46%) cited Budget uncertainty as the reason for delaying a sale.
This group represents 21% of all homeowners surveyed, while 38% said they were specifically concerned about Stamp Duty costs.
The survey of 1,004 homeowners also highlighted broader anxieties: 57% fear hidden moving costs such as solicitors’ fees and surveys, 53% pointed to mortgage affordability, and more than a quarter (26%) expressed concerns about job security.
The research suggested that the uncertainty itself is shaping behaviour.
While London, the East of England and Wales saw the highest levels of concern over tax, younger homeowners were more worried about mortgage rates and employment stability.
Among 45 to 54 year olds, 68% said they feared not being able to afford a mortgage if they moved.
Elliot Castle, CEO of We Buy Any Home, said: “We’re seeing a perfect storm. People want to move – but they’re frozen by what the November Budget might bring. Will stamp duty go up? Will tax thresholds change? Will interest rates drop, or stay stuck? The lack of clarity is stalling the market.
“It’s like waiting for a traffic light that never turns green. People feel they can’t plan properly until they know what Rachel Reeves will announce. It’s understandable – no one wants to make the biggest financial decision of their lives in the dark.”
