Effects of extra stamp duty cost.

December 9, 2015

In the recent Autumn Statement  George Osborne announced that there would be an additional 3% stamp duty on second homes and buy to let properties, this increase will come into force from April 2016, adding thousands in tax.

Potential buy-to-let purchasers in a rush to avoid the additional stamp duty rate could fuel a 7% rise in UK house prices next year despite a slower market last month, economists have predicted.

There is currently  a shortage of properties for sale and the imbalance between supply and demand is already putting an upward pressure on house prices, the rush to buy to avoid paying extra stamp duty will only add to this pressure in the near term.

In a recent report it was stated that IHS Global Insight expects solid increases in prices in the coming months and increases of between 6% and 7% in 2016.

It is not that long since The Chancellor outlined changes to mortgage tax relief in his July budget,  landlords will  face greater tax on the profits from their properties from April 2017, with minimum tax relief dropping from 45 or 40 per cent to just 20 per cent.

 

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Homebuyer demand slips in Q2 2026

Buyer demand slips in Q2 2026, with North and Midlands continuing to outperform southern markets The latest sales demand data from eXp UK has revealed that homebuyer demand in England slipped by -1.1% in Q2 2026. The analysis also reveals a continued regional divide, with a number of counties in the North and Midlands recording…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

International buyer slowdown one of Prime London’s biggest challenges

The latest survey of UK prime residential agents by AgentWise has found that many believe a slowdown in international buyer activity to be one of the biggest challenges facing the market today, whilst many have also noted an increase in the number of clients looking to explore property opportunities overseas rather than the UK. AgentWise…
Read More →
Breaking News

Housing market hit by £21m increase in fall-through bill

The latest Fall-Through Index by the House Buyer Bureau reveals that the number of property fall-throughs across the UK increased by 9.8% during the first quarter of 2026, resulting in an additional £20.9m in costs to the housing market compared to the previous quarter. House Buyer Bureau analysed the latest data from TwentyCi on the estimated…
Read More →
Breaking News

Is UK Construction Stuck in a Rut?

Glenigan data for Q.2 shows construction performance weakening further, dashing hopes of recovery in H.2 2026   The value of underlying work starting on-site during the past three months declined 15% and fell 38% below last year’s levels. Residential construction starts fell sharply, dropping 31% against the preceding three months and plummeting 52% compared with…
Read More →
Breaking News

Home sellers have a 24-hour patience threshold

Survey shows that the age of instant communication has reached estate agencies New research from Street Group suggests Britain’s home sellers have developed a “24-hour patience threshold”, with the vast majority expecting estate agents to respond, provide updates or take action within a day at virtually every stage of the sales process. The survey of…
Read More →
Breaking News

Lloyds House Price Index for June 2026 – Thoughts from the Industry

The latest Lloyds House Price Index for June 2026 shows that: House prices increased by +0.2% between May 2026 and June 2026. Annual house price growth increased slightly to +0.6% in June 2026, up from +0.5% in May 2026. The average UK house price now stands at £299,330.   Thoughts from the Industry   Nathan…
Read More →