Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rates increase deadline.

January 2025    Colin Wooldridge

The temporary changes to SDLT thresholds were brought in by the last Conservative government in September 2022 to make home buying more affordable are set to change.

Liverpool Legal solicitors expect to see an increase in activity from buyers in the first quarter of 2025 to complete on their property before the deadline of 1st April 2025.

Speaking about the impending changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax, Liverpool Legal’s specialist Property Solicitor Colin Wooldridge explains:

“ Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax payable by the buyer of property or land in England by way of a lump sum to HMRC after completion within 14 days of the effective date of transaction.

After 1st April 2025, first time buyers will continue to benefit from 0% SDLT charge for properties up to £300,000. This is positive news for first time buyers in Liverpool and Wirral. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that in October 2024 first time buyers in Liverpool spent on average £167,000 and in Wirral £186,000.”

From 1st April 2025 in England first time buyers will:

Continue to benefit from 0% SDLT if the property is below £300,000. 

There will now be a 5% SDLT charge for the portion of the property valued between £300,001 to £500,000.

From 1st April 2025 in England clients purchasing a main residence will:

Pay 0% SDLT for up to £125,000, with a new charge of 2% for the portion of a property valued between £125,001 and £250,000.

The SDLT rates for properties valued over £250,001 will remain the same as pre-1st April 2025.

From 1st April 2025 in England clients purchasing second properties, buy to let purchasers or company purchasers of residential property will:

Pay 7% SDLT for the proportion of a property valued between £125,001 and £250,000, in comparison to 5% pre 1st April 2025. All other rates will remain the same.

At Liverpool Legal we have highly experienced, friendly and qualified solicitors dealing

with the sale, purchase and transfers of properties in the Northwest and beyond. Our property solicitors have the expertise and knowledge to deal with all freehold, leasehold, shared ownership and transfers of property seamlessly and without delay.

For further information and to discuss your situation, please contact Colin Wooldridge at Liverpool Legal Solicitors on 0151 702 5400 or send an email to enquiries@liverpool.legal or enter your details onto our contact form here.

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Colin is a specialist Property Lawyer. He studied at Manchester Metropolitan University and BBP Law School, Manchester. Colin qualified as a Solicitor in 2008 and has specialised in Property Law for the last 7 years. He has extensive experience in all aspects of property law and has dealt with the full range of residential property conveyancing matters from starter homes to properties exceeding one million pounds. Colin deals with both residential and commercial property matters throughout the UK and he has a reputation among his clients for dealing with their property matters quickly professionally and efficiently. In his free time, he enjoys holidaying in Ireland with his family and playing tennis.