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Published: 07 October 2025

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As a long-established, family-owned and run estate agency serving the local areas  Acres is committed to keeping our clients fully informed about changes that may affect the property market.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has now delivered the Autumn Budget, setting out tax measures aimed at addressing a reported £20bn fiscal shortfall. Following months of speculation around potential sweeping property tax reforms—including rumours of new annual taxes on homes over £500,000, changes to capital gains tax, and levies on rental income—the final announcements have proved more limited than anticipated.

Below is our summary of the key points and what they could mean for the market locally and nationally.

1. Landlords:     2% Increase in Income Tax on Rental Income (from April 2027)

Landlords will see property income tax rates increase by 2%, meaning the new rates will be:

• 22% basic rate

• 42% higher rate

• 47% additional rate

This builds on last year’s rise in stamp duty on additional homes (from 3% to 5%) and comes alongside incoming regulatory requirements under the Renters’ Rights Act and enhanced energy efficiency rules.

How this may affect the rental sector:

• Net returns for landlords will fall further after several years of increased costs.

• Some landlords may look to increase rents, which are already 25% higher than five years ago.

• Others—particularly those with smaller portfolios—may choose to exit the market, adding supply to sales but tightening rental availability.

At Acres, we anticipate continued pressure on supply, which remains a significant driver of rental prices both locally and nationally.

2. Stamp Duty: No Changes Announced

Despite intense speculation—especially rumours of a new annual charge on homes valued over £500,000—the Chancellor confirmed no changes to the stamp duty system.

This provides stability:

• Buyers will continue to pay stamp duty on homes over £125,000.

• First-time buyers retain relief up to £300,000 on purchases up to £500,000.

• Sellers will not be forced to adjust pricing strategies to absorb an annual tax.

Although the system remains unchanged, it is worth noting that stamp duty price bands were set a decade ago, meaning average buyers are paying more over time as property values have increased.

3. When Will the Market Feel These Changes?

The phased introduction of policy changes means that the wider impact will unfold gradually:

• Landlord income tax increases: April 2027

• Mansion tax: April 2028

With uncertainty now lifted, many home-movers can plan with more confidence. Although the very top end of the market may pause for reassessment ahead of the 2028 surcharge, the majority of UK households remain unaffected by the new measures.

In Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas, where most transactions are comfortably below the £2 million mark, we expect activity to stabilise rather than slow, with continuity in stamp duty helping restore momentum.

4. ‘Mansion Tax’ Introduced for Homes Worth Over £2 Million (from April 2028)

A new annual surcharge—informally referred to as a mansion tax—will apply to homes valued above £2 million. This is payable by the owner, not the occupier, and is charged in addition to council tax.

Annual surcharge bands:

The government will carry out a targeted valuation exercise every five years to determine which band applies.

Nationally, only a small proportion of properties fall within this threshold, and the impact will be concentrated primarily in London and the South East, where higher-value homes are more common.

However, as with most taxation affecting the upper end, there is a likely trickle-down effect that can influence buyer behaviour below these thresholds. Markets may edge slower, particularly as we approach the 2028 implementation date.

Acres View

At Acres, we believe that stability, clarity, and confidence are essential for healthy market activity. While certain aspects of the Budget introduce additional cost pressures, particularly for landlords and the premium sector, the absence of major changes to stamp duty will be welcomed by the majority of movers.

Whether you're considering selling, buying, renting, or investing, our experienced team across all four offices is here to offer honest, informed advice tailored to your circumstances.

Want more tips and advice? We love being able to help! Acres Estate Agents are your local, family owned and run property experts for the Sutton Coldfield and Great Barr areas. Call your local office on the numbers below or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how we can help you.

Want to check how much your home is worth? You can get an Instant Valuation here.  

If you would like to discuss selling your home, please get in touch with us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call any of our busy, helpful teams/offices:

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                    0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                              0121 358 6222

Lettings                                  0121 312 4997

Mortgages                             0121 387 1616

Thank you for reading this article, and your interest in Acres and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners

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Published: 30 September 2025

Hits: 252

Stepping Up Our Social Media Presence 🚀

A look behind the scenes at how we’re evolving, engaging, and moving forward

Over the past year, Acres Estate Agents has made a clear, deliberate, and strategic decision to significantly strengthen and expand our presence across social media platforms — and the results so far have been outstanding.

In today’s fast-moving and highly competitive property market, social media is no longer a “nice to have” for estate agents. It plays a central role in how buyers and sellers discover properties, research agents, and ultimately decide who they trust to handle what is often their biggest financial decision. A strong, consistent digital profile allows us to showcase not only the homes we market, but also the people, values, experience, and professionalism that sit behind the Acres brand.

Bringing Properties to Life 🎥

One of the most impactful developments has been our increased focus on high-quality property videos. While professional photography remains vital, video content enables us to present homes in a far more engaging and immersive way — showcasing layout, flow, natural light, outdoor space, and overall lifestyle in a way that still images alone simply cannot.

These videos are proving extremely effective across our social channels, helping properties reach a wider audience and generate higher levels of engagement. Just as importantly, they allow prospective buyers to gain a much clearer understanding of a home before arranging a viewing, leading to more meaningful enquiries and better-quality viewings.

Putting Faces to the Name 👋

Alongside property-led content, we have also introduced interviews with our managers and partners, offering followers a genuine insight into the people behind Acres Estate Agents. These features allow us to share our local knowledge, market expertise, and approach to selling, while also highlighting the personalities that drive the business day to day.

This has helped to humanise agency, build trust, and reinforce the depth of experience across our team. Feedback has been extremely great, with many clients commenting that they enjoy seeing who they will be dealing with and hearing directly from those responsible for leading and shaping the business.

Real Results, Real Engagement 📈

By combining professional video content, regular posting, and authentic behind-the-scenes insight, we have already seen clear and measurable benefits, including:

• Increased engagement and reach across our social media platforms
• Greater exposure and momentum for our property listings
• Stronger brand recognition within our core areas
• Clients feeling more informed, confident, and connected before first contact

Social media has effectively become an extension of our marketing and customer service, allowing us to communicate more clearly, more frequently, and more personally with both buyers and sellers.

Looking Ahead to an Exciting Year ✨

As we look ahead, we are genuinely excited about what the coming year will bring. Building on the success so far, we have a number of new initiatives planned, including:

• Even more creative and informative property videos
• Additional team features, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content
• Coverage of local events and increased community involvement
• Continued investment in new ideas, formats, and social media advances

Our objective remains simple: to keep evolving, to keep innovating, and to ensure that Acres Estate Agents continues to stand out as a modern, forward-thinking, and approachable estate agency that delivers exceptional results for its clients.

Stay Connected with Acres

We look forward to sharing more with you over the months ahead. If you’re thinking of selling, buying, or simply want to keep up to date with what’s happening locally, we invite you to:

• Follow us on social media
• Watch our latest property videos on Acres web site, youtube, Rightmove, on The Market and of course social media. 
• Get in touch with your local Acres office for a chat

As always, thank you for your continued support and engagement with Acres Estate Agents.

If you would like to discuss selling your home, our proactive approach and ideas please get in touch with us; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call any of our busy, helpful teams/offices:

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                  0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                             0121 358 6222

Lettings                                 0121 312 4997

Thank you for reading our latest article, your interest in Acres, and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners

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Published: 16 September 2025

Hits: 1024

Looking for advice on how to buy a house? You’ve come to the right place.

It’s no secret that the housing market has been incredibly busy in recent months with house prices going through the roof. For buyers, it's hard to stand out, with so few properties on the market and so much competiton. There is some good news on the horizon though...

Things are starting to settle down, amid falling interest rates and more settled inflation. 11% of homes have had their price cut by more than 5% since September, according to property portal Zoopla. And more properties are now coming to the sales market. 

If you're looking to move soon, we’ve compiled a helpful step-by-step guide to give you the best possible chance to secure your dream home and ensure your purchase is as stress-free as possible.

1. Save, save, save! 

Look to save at least 10 to 20% of the cost of the home you would like to buy.

Top tip: remember to factor in additional costs like solicitor fees, mortgage fees, survey costs and buildings insurance. As your local property professionals, we’re always here to help support you and offer advice on moving costs.

2. Get a mortgage agreement in principle

This is an estimate of how much you could potentially borrow from a bank or building society. Bear in mind it’s not a formal mortgage offer but it means you can show agents that it’s likely you’ll be able to afford the property you want to buy.   Get expert mrtgage advice here ~ https://acres-fs.co.uk/

3. Identify an up and coming area

When searching for a new home, it’s important to look beyond the four walls of the property. 

One way to get ahead and make the market work for you is to find a part of town that is affordable yet offers an increasing amount of amenities due to a new demographic of people moving into the area. 

According to our property expert, and Manager of Acres Four Oaks office Chris Harvey, the top four signs you should look out for in an up and coming area;

• Young professionals are a great indicator of potential growth. If you can spot people in their twenties and thirties choosing a specific area, it's almost inevitable that local house prices there will increase.
• New delicatessens, pubs, restaurants and independent coffee shops suggest that there is new demand in the area from people with disposable income. 
• Nearby public transport links that give local residents access to schools, workplaces and central locations will inevitably attract more people to the area. 
• Regeneration can greatly improve the quality of life in a specific area. Chances are if money is being pumped into a neighbourhood, the house prices there are likely to grow.

4. Find a good buyer ~ Acres of course.

Acres are here to make your buying process as simple and smooth as possible. We will provide you with daily updates of new properties, and if you contact your local office, we will give you advice and tips on the local area.

You should plan for multiple property viewings. Do your research and get to know the local market really well. If you need a little extra area advice, talk to us..

5. Make an offer

Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, it’s time to make an offer. Think carefully about what you would be willing to pay, if you go too low you risk not being seen as a serious buyer, so make sure your offer is realistic. Equally, don’t go in too high and miss the mark completely. Remember your estate agents will be on hand to help to support you through the offer process.

6. What happens after you’ve made an offer?

Well, this can go one of two ways. The estate agent will call you back and tell you that your offer has been accepted. In this case, it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief and move on to step 7. If not, you might want to repeat the process again with a higher offer. Again, our agents are able to do all the negotiations on your behalf.

7. Arrange a mortgage

If you need to arrange a mortgage we can help through our associated company Acres Financial Services. They can compare thousands of mortgage deals from a panel of high street and specialist lenders (subject to status and lender criteria).   Get expert mrtgage advice here ~ https://acres-fs.co.uk/

8. Appoint a property lawyer / conveyancer

Once you've had your offer accepted and confirmed your mortgage, it's time to think about who you want to handle the legal side of things. A property lawyer will take charge of conducting searches, liaising with the seller’s lawyer, inspecting the seller’s documents, dealing with the Land Registry and all that fun stuff. This role is critical to keeping your house purchase on track so do your research.b

9. Get a survey

Sorted your mortgage and property lawyer? Great.

It’s survey time. A survey isn’t compulsory, but it’s definitely advisable. If you don’t get one and you come across unforeseen structural issues once you’ve bought the property, it would just be hard luck. Don’t be one of those people that rely on the mortgage valuation or you might find yourself forking out thousands of pounds later down the line. Give yourself peace of mind by having a survey conducted.

The HomeFact Report, RICS HomeBuyer Survey, RICS HomeBuyer Survey & Valuation and the RICS Building Survey are your main options. 

10. Arrange buildings insurance

How important is buildings insurance? Well, take this example – as soon as the contracts are exchanged, you’re legally bound to buy the property. If the building were to burn down the day before completion and you weren’t insured, you’d have to pay every penny of the sale price yourself, that's why for many lenders it's a requirement for you to have building insurance prior to completion.

11. Set the completion date

This is the date that you’ll finally move into your new home. Completion usually takes place between one and four weeks after you’ve exchanged contracts. During this time, it might be an idea to find a trustworthy removals company to help get you moving.

12. Exchange contracts and sign the transfer deeds

You’re almost there! Your deposit will now be sent to the seller’s property lawyer, along with the contracts that you signed. Your property lawyer will prepare the transfer deed. Make sure you sign it in the presence of a witness. It confirms you're willing to take ownership of the property.

Once this is complete it means you’re legally bound to purchase the house. Time to put the champagne on ice and celebrate!

13. Completion

You did it. You’re officially a new homeowner – collect the keys and let yourself in. You can now look forward to making the house a home! 

Want to check how much your home is worth? You can get an Instant Valuation here.

 If you would like to discuss selling your home, please get in touch with us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call any of our busy, helpful teams/offices:

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                  0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                             0121 358 6222

Lettings                                  0121 312 4997

Thank you for reading this article, and your interest in Acres and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners

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Published: 16 September 2025

Hits: 800

As the days grow shorter, the leaves turn golden and the nights draw in, autumn is one of the most atmospheric times of the year. It’s also when we naturally spend more time indoors, so now is the perfect opportunity to create a cosy, welcoming haven at home.

At Acres Estate Agents here in Sutton Coldfield, we see first-hand how the right touches can make a home more comfortable and also more appealing to prospective buyers. With energy efficiency and cost savings in mind, there are plenty of ways to keep your home snug without breaking the bank. Below we’ve gathered some of our favourite ideas – from simple décor tweaks to more practical upgrades – to help you transform your space this season.

Rugs – Simple Yet Impactful

Rugs remain a timeless favourite for adding warmth and personality. Whether your home features hard flooring or carpet, a rug can instantly bring softness underfoot and a sense of comfort. A boldly patterned or textured rug can act as a piece of “floor art,” creating a striking focal point.

Layering rugs – think a smaller patterned rug over a larger neutral base – creates a luxurious, deep-pile effect. It’s also a great way to zone open-plan spaces or add definition to a seating area. With thousands of styles, colours and price points available, there’s a rug for every room and budget.

Extra tip from Acres: If you’re planning to sell, a well-placed rug can make a room look bigger, warmer and more inviting in photographs and during viewings.

Add Warmth and Character With Lighting

As daylight fades, lighting becomes more than just functional – it shapes how a room feels. Instead of relying on a single ceiling light, create a “layered” lighting scheme with floor lamps, table lamps and wall lights. This lets you adjust the ambience to suit your mood, whether it’s bright and energising for working or soft and golden for relaxing evenings.

Warm-toned LED bulbs are energy-efficient yet give a cosy glow. Dimmers are another simple but effective upgrade, enabling you to control brightness and atmosphere at the touch of a switch.

Extra tip from Acres: Highlighting artwork, architectural features or even a fireplace with subtle spot lighting can add depth and sophistication – perfect for making your home memorable to visitors or viewers.

Comforting Colours, Textures and Scents

Colour and texture can completely change the feel of a room. Autumn is the perfect time to introduce richer shades – think deep rust, warm ochre, forest green or burgundy – through cushions, throws and accessories. If you prefer neutrals, layer textures instead: chunky knits, soft velvets and tactile weaves all add warmth and interest.

Throws are wonderfully versatile, doubling as a cosy cover on cold evenings and an attractive accessory during the day. You can also refresh your home affordably by swapping cushion covers, updating lampshades or adding a seasonal centrepiece to your dining table.

And don’t underestimate scent: diffusers, scented candles or simmering citrus-and-spice on the hob can create a welcoming autumnal aroma.

Cosy Curtains and Clever Draught-Proofing

Curtains are more than decoration – they’re a frontline defence against heat loss. Thermal-lined curtains or blinds can cut heat escaping through windows by up to 25%. Door curtains are another traditional yet effective way to stop draughts in their tracks, especially in porches, hallways or conservatories.

You can also upgrade simple touches like draught excluders, door seals and even keyhole covers to retain more warmth. Combined, these small changes can make a noticeable difference to your comfort and your heating bill.

Extra tip from Acres: Buyers are increasingly asking about energy efficiency. Simple upgrades like thermal curtains and draught-proofing can be attractive selling points and a conversation starter during viewings.

Smart Heating and Energy-Saving Tips

It’s not just décor that makes a home feel snug. A modern, programmable thermostat or smart heating system can save money and keep rooms at exactly the right temperature. Heating only the rooms you use regularly and lowering the temperature slightly in unused areas can add up to significant savings.

Bleeding radiators, adding reflective panels behind them and checking insulation in your loft are all quick wins to improve efficiency.

Create a Sleepy Sanctuary

Cooler weather is the perfect excuse to refresh your bedroom. Switching to a higher-tog duvet and flannelette sheets helps maintain the ideal temperature for sleep. Layering with blankets and throws gives you flexibility on nights when the temperature fluctuates.

Consider upgrading pillows or adding a mattress topper for extra comfort. Blackout or thermal curtains can also keep bedrooms warmer and darker for a deeper sleep.

Create Inviting Social Spaces

As we move indoors for autumn, our living and dining areas often become the heart of the home. Rearranging furniture to create a more intimate seating layout, adding a statement centrepiece or hanging a new piece of artwork can breathe fresh life into familiar spaces. If you have a fireplace, dressing the mantel with seasonal decorations or lighting the first fire of the year can create an instant focal point.

Don’t Forget the Outside

Your home’s exterior sets the tone before anyone even steps inside. A swept driveway, a few potted evergreens by the front door and warm outdoor lighting make for a welcoming approach – something prospective buyers always notice. Clear gutters, check roof tiles and seal any gaps now to prevent leaks or draughts later in winter.

Bringing It All Together

With a few thoughtful touches, you can make your home feel warmer, more stylish and more energy-smart this autumn. From rugs and lighting to curtains, bedding and energy efficiency, these changes don’t just enhance your comfort – they can also add real appeal if you’re thinking of selling.

At Acres Estate Agents we’re always happy to chat about ways to make your home stand out in today’s market. Whether you’re looking to sell, buy or simply get some inspiration, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team in Sutton Coldfield.

Want more tips and advice? We love being able to help! Acres Estate Agents are your local, family owned and run property experts for the Sutton Coldfield and Great Barr areas. Call your local office on the numbers below or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how we can help you.

Want to check how much your home is worth? You can get an Instant Valuation here.  

If you would like to discuss selling your home, please get in touch with us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call any of our busy, helpful teams/offices:

Four Oaks                              0121 323 3088

Sutton Coldfield                    0121 321 2101

Walmley                                 0121 313 2888

Great Barr                              0121 358 6222

Lettings                                  0121 312 4997

Mortgages                             0121 387 1616

Thank you for reading this article, and your interest in Acres and our property for sale. 

Nigel & Jayne  Deekes – Acres Partners