London’s housing market is experiencing its most significant downturn since the 2008 financial crisis, with property values in central London plummeting, as wealthy homeowners react to new government taxation policies.
Recent statistics reveal that central London property values decreased by 4.6% over the year ending in November, representing the steepest yearly drop since 2009. During the financial crisis, prices had fallen by as much as 15%. Inner London saw average home values slide from £661,000 to £631,000 during this period.
The most dramatic declines have taken place in London’s wealthiest boroughs. Kensington and Chelsea experienced a 16.3% price reduction, with average homes now selling for £1.18 million. Westminster followed closely with a 15.5% drop, seeing prices fall from £1 million to £866,000.
London stands alone among English regions in recording negative annual growth, with overall capital prices down 1.2%. Meanwhile, the rest of the UK saw property values increase by 2.5%, up from 1.9% the previous month.
The market downturn stems largely from the introduction of new property taxes that target high-value homes. Last November’s budget announcement included an annual levy on properties worth £2 million or more, requiring owners to pay at least £2,500 yearly. For properties exceeding £5 million, this charge rises to £7,500 annually.
Thetax changes created significant uncertainty before their official announcement, particularly affecting luxury property sales. The property industry reported that transactions for homes valued above £5 million fell 11% compared to the previous year.
Additional changes to regulations affecting wealthy foreign residents have also impacted the market. The government eliminated a special tax status previously available to non-domiciled residents in April, replacing it with a system that subjects worldwide assets to UK inheritance taxation. This shift has reportedly prompted some wealthy international clients to relocate.
Further pressure came from increased stamp duty rates on second homes and rental properties, which rose from 3% to 5%. This change particularly affects affluent buyers investing in expensive properties.
While London struggles, other parts of England have demonstrated healthy growth. The national average house price reached £271,000, with the North East leading gains at 6.8% growth. The North West followed with 4.1% appreciation.
Industry professionals suggest that despite pre-budget concerns, buyer confidence remained strong throughout most of the country. The market showed resilience, particularly as the year concluded, with price increases indicating sustained demand outside the capital.
The rental market tells a similar story. English rents rose 3.9% to an average of £1,424 monthly. Interestingly, London showed the slowest rental growth at just 2.1%, reaching £2,268 monthly—a stark contrast to the 11.5% increase recorded the previous November.
The new taxation policies appear to have created a two-tier market, with London’s luxury sector bearing the brunt of recent changes while the less expensive regional markets continue to grow steadily.