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The Global Insight

How many people own a second property?

Author

John Johnson

Updated on March 15, 2026

In the top tenth of the household income distribution, 7.5 per cent of individuals own a second home and 13.6 per cent own a buy-to-let. However, the generational distribution of additional property wealth is different compared to primary property wealth.

How many people own a second home in UK?

The number of second homes in the UK has risen to a record high of 495,000 in 2018/19 – a 30% rise from the 382,000 recorded in 2013/14.

How much stamp duty do you pay on a second property?

If you’re buying a second home you will pay 3% on the first £250,000 of the purchase price, then 8% from £250,001 to £925,000. The usual rates of 13% and 15% apply for the last two bands.

How many houses can you own at once?

If you don’t need traditional mortgage financing, you can own as many homes as you have the means to buy. If you pay cash or work out private financing with the seller or a hard money lender, there are no limits to how many homes you can own, as long as you can afford to make the payments and maintain the properties.

How many Londoners have second homes?

The overall number of second homes in London in 2018 reached 49,980.

Who are the people who own second homes?

The analysis of data from sources including the Office for National Statistics found that half of these second homes are owned by wealthy baby boomers – defined in the research as those born between 1946 and 1965 – most of whom live in southern England.

What are the rules for selling a second home?

The replacement property must meet the following criteria: 1 You must own the home for at least two years after exercising the 1031 exchange; and 2 You must rent it out for at least 14 days per year; and 3 You cannot use the home for personal enjoyment for more than 10% of the days the home is rented out, or more than 14 days per year.

When does a second home become a personal residence?

If you stay at the property for more than 14 days per year, or more than 10% of the total days in which the property was rented, then the second home is considered a personal residence. This means you can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes as you would with any home, but you cannot claim rental losses.

How to depreciate a second home while you own it?

If your second home was rented out while you owned it, you could opt to deduct real estate depreciation for the number of days it was occupied by renters or available to rent each year. As an example, if the property was rented or available to be rented for 50 days out of the year, you could claim 50% of the yearly depreciation deduction.