19/06/2026
What Could Andy Burnham’s Proposed 0.48% Property Tax Mean for Homeowners?
A major debate is emerging around property taxation following Andy Burnham’s support for replacing Council Tax and Stamp Duty with a proportional annual property tax of 0.48% of a home’s value.
The proposal, backed by campaign group Fairer Share, would see a £750,000 property pay around £3,600 per year, with the aim of creating a fairer and more transparent system.
Supporters argue the current Council Tax system is based on outdated 1991 valuations and is inherently regressive. Burnham has described Council Tax as ‘highly regressive’ and has suggested that land and property taxation should be reformed.
The proposal has attracted support from tax reform advocates. The Fairer Share campaign claims that around 75% of households could pay less tax, with average savings of more than £500 per year, particularly in regions where property values are lower.
However, not everyone agrees. Tax expert Dan Neidle has warned that ‘the vast majority of people you are going to tax are normal people’ and cautions that any new property tax should replace existing taxes rather than simply add to them.
Economists and policy advisers remain divided. Advocates argue a land or proportional property tax could encourage more efficient use of land, reduce barriers to moving home by abolishing Stamp Duty, and create a fairer system. Critics warn it could increase costs for homeowners in higher-value areas and potentially put downward pressure on house prices.
For buyers, sellers and investors, the key message is that no changes are currently planned, but property taxation is becoming an increasingly important topic in UK housing policy.
