As I write this article, 2025 has been and pretty much gone – and what a year it has been! A mixed bag in many ways, but overall a very positive one for the property market. We saw a remarkably resilient market across both sales and lettings, and our figures suggest that this has been one of our most successful years to date.
The only thing that caused any real consternation – for both the market and myself – was the November Budget. There had been plenty of speculation about what it might bring, and some of the ‘leaked’ proposals could have been extremely damaging for the housing sector. In the end, however, the actual announcement was relatively tame.
The rumoured removal of Capital Gains Tax relief on the sale of a main residence did not appear, which was a huge relief, as such a measure could have caused significant disruption. The additional 2% tax on property income, in my view, is fairly ill-conceived. In theory it targets landlords, but in practice it will ultimately impact tenants, as landlords are likely to increase rents or exit the market altogether. This comes at a time when rents are already at an all-time high, private landlords are being squeezed out, and the social housing sector is struggling to cope.
The so-called ‘mansion tax’ is unlikely to have much of an impact in this part of the world. Owners of properties valued above £2 million will face an additional charge of £2,000 per year. Realistically, if you can purchase a home at that level, the extra levy is unlikely to be a deal-breaker — and if it is, one might question whether such a purchase was sensible in the first place.
Beyond the housing market, Berriman Eaton continued its charitable efforts this year. We remain Pack Patrons of the Wolves Foundation and major supporters of Compton Care, the Scarecrow Festival, Bilston Operatic, Bridgnorth Foodbank, and several local sports teams and charities. To raise funds for local causes, members of our team took part in the Wolverhampton 10k, joined the annual sleep-out at Molineux, and contributed to the Christmas Shoebox Appeal. Altogether, we have donated over £30,000 to worthy causes this year, and we are immensely proud of the positive impact we strive to make within our local community.
So what does 2026 look like for Berriman Eaton? Exciting times lie ahead. As part of our continued growth, we are establishing a dedicated lettings presence within our Bridgnorth office. Having been active in the Shropshire lettings market for many years, we believe now is the right moment to strengthen our position further.
But most importantly, 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of our business! It is hard to believe that two decades have passed since David Berriman Estate Agents and Eaton Estates came together. The growth we have experienced since then has been remarkable, and I sincerely hope our success continues long into the future. We owe everything to our wonderful clients and our fantastic team, and I would like to thank each and every one of them personally.
Here’s to a great New Year for all of us!
