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Second home owners listing homes for sale to get one-year tax exemption

Journalist: Joe Wright, Telegraph

ended 09. April 2025

Hello

Are estate agents noticing a rise in the number second home owners listing their home for sale with little/no intention of selling up?

Most second home owners have this month been hit with doubled council tax. They can avoid paying it for 12 months by listing the home for sale, as long as it is publicly marketed in line with local prices. There is no obligation to sell.

Are estate agents in England already seeing evidnece of this happening?

Also, with second homes that are selling, who is buying them? Are they locals or they again second home owners?

Cheers, Joe

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Harry Goodliffe
Director at HTG Mortgages
Some second home owners are playing the game — list the house, dodge the tax, but don’t actualy sell. Since the new council tax changes kicked in, we’ve noticed a few properties pop up at inflated prices or with zero real marketing effort. It’s a clear sign they’re just buying 12 months of relief, not seriously exiting the market. In terms of genuine buyers, it's a mixed crowd — some locals hoping to finally get a look-in, but also investors and second home buyers who see opportunity in the disruption. This loophole might be legal, but it’s raising eyebrows.
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Jonathan Moser
CEO at Mo'Living
As a property manager in North London, I’ve noticed a subtle uptick in second home owners listing their properties since the doubled council tax kicked in this month. Many seem to be exploiting the 12-month exemption by putting their homes on the market with inflated asking prices or minimal effort to attract buyers, suggesting they’re not serious about selling — just dodging the tax. It’s early days but we’re already seeing this tactic emerge, particularly among owners who’ve long treated these homes as occasional retreats rather than investments they’re ready to part with. When it comes to genuine sales, buyers are a mixed bag. In North London, we’re seeing some locals snap up properties, especially smaller flats or terraced houses that suit first-time buyers or young families. But there’s still a steady stream of second home buyers—often wealthier individuals from outside the area—drawn by the prestige or potential rental income, despite the tax hike.