Over the past year, more rural landowners have sought professional valuations to protect their land and farming businesses due to changing tax rules.
Since January alone, Weldon Beesly has completed over £230 million worth of Red Book valuation reports, covering residential, commercial, and agricultural land. Alongside these formal reports, we’ve also carried out a growing number of informal valuations, helping families plan ahead and make informed decisions around succession and inheritance.
This surge has been driven by the ongoing and upcoming changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT).
From April 2026, new rules will bring increased scrutiny from HMRC, who are already recruiting additional staff to review probate valuations more closely. These changes also mean that valuers will need to assess all business assets including machinery, livestock, produce, stocks and even the value of some tenancies as part of probate, inevitably increasing the scope, and cost, of valuations.
Looking ahead, we expect further changes to be announced in this year’s Autumn Budget, adding yet more complexity for rural businesses and landowners.
Our advice: don’t wait to get a valuation. With demand for qualified valuers increasing, it’s best to engage early to secure the right support.
At Weldon Beesly, we provide trusted, professional valuations for tax planning, succession, probate, or strategic decisions, backed by expert market knowledge.
Call us on 01279 798 866
Email info@weldonbeesly.com
Find out more about our valuation services here: rics-red-door-valuation