As part of the forthcoming reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), the latest budget introduced a small change, making the new £1 million relief band transferrable between spouses and civil partners.

In practical terms, this means the surviving spouse will be able to benefit from any portion of the £1 million band that the deceased spouse did not use. For many farming families this added flexibility offers welcome breathing room within succession planning.

Importantly, this mirrors the familiar mechanics of the Nil Rate Band . We are also told that widows and widowers will be able to benefit from the transferred allowance even where the death occurred before April 2026, ensuring that families are not disadvantaged simply because of timing.

As always, the detail will matter, and we anticipate further guidance as the reforms take shape. If you would like to explore how these changes may affect your own arrangements or long-term planning, we’re always here to help.