Shock Landlord Tax Hike Is Latest Blow for UK's High-End Housing.

The UK's high-end housing market faces a blow with proposed tax increases by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, including a surprise two percentage point hike to stamp duty for landlords and second-home owners. These measures aim to deter investors in favor of first-time home buyers, potentially causing planned purchases to collapse. The changes may impact the rental market as well, with analysts warning of constraints on supply and upward pressure on rents. [Extracted from the article]