Valuing Properties Under New Council Tax Surcharges: Surveyor Strategies for Second Homes in 2026
A confirmed government policy shift is forcing a fundamental rethink of how second homes are valued across England and Wales. From 2028, properties worth over £2 million will face a new High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) — and the values used to determine liability are being locked in using 2026 figures [4]. That single […]
Macroeconomic Uncertainty and Spring 2026 Valuations: How Building Surveyors Adjust for Interest Rate Volatility and Geopolitical Risk
The RICS UK Residential Market Survey for February 2026 recorded its sharpest drop in buyer enquiries since late 2023 — a direct response to renewed inflation fears and the geopolitical shock that erupted in the final days of that month. For building surveyors completing valuations in this environment, the question is no longer whether macroeconomic […]
Surveyor Strategies for Landlord Instructions Shortage: Valuations in Tight Lettings Markets per RICS February 2026
The rental property market has hit a critical inflection point: landlord instructions plummeted to a -27% net balance in February 2026, while tenant demand held steady at +2%, creating the most severe supply-demand mismatch recorded in recent RICS survey history. For valuation surveyors, this unprecedented shortage demands immediate strategic adaptation in portfolio assessments, methodology adjustments, […]
