Lifestyle buyers and private investors are snapping up increasing amounts of UK agricultural land, according to estate agents Strutt and the Tenant Farmers Association . Lifestyle buyers and tax-savvy investors are about to overtake farmers as the primary buyers of agricultural land, according an analysis of every public sale of over 100 acres since 1996. The firm revealed farmers made up 51% of buyers during H1 2017 , compared with 68% during H1 2017 . The southeast is the most affected region, where lifestyle investors and private buyers outnumber farmers by two to one. Farmland is not subject to inheritance tax, while a country house with land is liable to a capped stamp duty of only 5% . George Dunn , the head of Parker , called the tax breaks a "scandalous" perk.
Lifestyle buyers and private investors are snapping up increasing amounts of UK agricultural land, according to estate agents Strutt and the Tenant Farmers Association . The firm revealed farmers made up 51% of buyers during H1 2017 , compared with 68% during H1 2017 . The southeast is the most affected region, where lifestyle investors and private buyers outnumber farmers by two to one. Farmland is not subject to inheritance tax, while a country house with land is liable to a capped stamp duty of only 5% . George Dunn , the head of Parker , called the tax breaks a "scandalous" perk.