The UK’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will deliver the Labour government’s autumn budget at the end of the month, we take a look at what could be announced in relation to housing.
Stamp Duty
The stamp duty rates announced in the mini-budget in September 2022 were to remain until 31st March 2025. Labour confirmed prior to the election that if it formed the next government the first time buyer stamp duty exemption threshold would go back to £300,000 – this was raised to £425,000 from September 2022.
Reeves has said that in the upcoming budget, there may be other changes to stamp duty.
Freedom to Buy
Labour’s housing policy is the Freedom to Buy scheme. They have pledged to help 80,000 people get onto the property ladder over the next five years by permanently extending the mortgage guarantee scheme, which is due to expire in June 2025.
Council Tax Adjustments
There have been suggestions that Labour could introduce a flat-rate council tax system based on the value of the property instead of the current banding system currently in place. This could mean more expensive bills for more expensive properties, but may benefit lower value homes.
The Autumn budget will take place on Wednesday 30th October.
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
The Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, has advised that, due to the “very big energy shock” the economy is facing, they won’t be in a rush to increase UK interest rates.
Many homeowners don’t realise that a simple act or oversight could invalidate their home insurance policy. Home insurance is essential in protecting your most valuable assets; however, it is important to understand what affects your cover to ensure you are fully protected.
In certain areas, impressive views are one feature that buyers are willing to pay price premiums of more than 30 per cent.
The UK mortgage market is seeing lenders withdraw deals and hike mortgage rates amid the escalation of conflict in Iran. This isn’t great news for borrowers, with the average rate for a two-year fixed deal sitting above 5%.
Statistics now show that those looking to purchase a property would have to save a deposit bigger than their annual gross pay.
Analysis from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) shows that those looking to buy their first home could face a sharp increase if house prices follow the latest predictions, as Coventry Building Society suggests.
According to Zoopla, four in 10 homes are now cheaper to buy with a mortgage than to rent due to lower-cost mortgages - a sign that ownership is becoming more affordable.