Stamp duty: how is it changing in 2025?

What is stamp duty?

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax charged in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by the Government. The amount of tax you will be required to pay depends on the cost of the property, whether you will be living in the property, and whether you own any other properties.

You will be required to pay this tax if you:

  • Purchase a freehold property
  • Purchase a new or existing leasehold
  • Take on a mortgage or buy a share in a house
  • Purchase a property through a shared ownership scheme

How much will stamp duty cost?

Up until 31st March 2025, those purchasing a property under £250,000 will be exempt from having to pay stamp duty, first time buyers are not required to pay stamp duty for a property costing less than £425,000.

However, changes on stamp duty were announced during the August budget by Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. These higher thresholds will end on 31st March 2025 where they will go back to the previous levels set in the mini-budget in September 2022.

From 1st April 2025

First time buyers

£0 - £300,000 – no stamp duty due
£300,001 - £500,000 - 5% charged on the £300k+
£500,000 - you cannot claim relief 

Residential property

£0 - £125,000 - no stamp duty due
£125,001 - £250,000 - 2% charged
£250,001 - £925,000 - 5% charged
£925,001 - £1.5 million - 10% charged
£1.5 million+ - 12% charged

Additional properties

You will usually be required to pay an additional 5% on top of stamp duty rates if you are buying another residential property.

Example:

You buy a house for £465,440 from April 2025

Type Stamp duty cost
First time buyer £8,272
Residential (moving home) £13,272
Additional property £36,544

When do you need to pay stamp duty?

You will have two weeks to pay stamp duty from the date of completion.

If you would like to find out more, please feel free to give our experienced mortgage brokers a call on 01628 507477.

Recent posts

Starmers Resignation   What Does It Mean For Mortgages   Web Larger

Monday 22nd June saw Keir Starmer resign as Prime Minister and Labour leader. The resignation does not directly impact mortgage rates, as changes were taking place before this announcement. However, it could influence mortgage rates indirectly through financial markets and future government policies.

Homebuying Reform   Web Larger

Homebuying reform to cut homebuying times by around four weeks, and save first-time buyers around £650, says the government.

Estate Agent Questions   Web Larger

Buying your first home is a huge milestone, but it can also be a complex process. There are several factors a first-time buyer should consider before making an offer on a property, including understanding the difference between leasehold and freehold and checking council tax bands.

We’ve detailed some questions you can ask your estate agent to help you make an informed decision.

Deals of week web larger

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.

Sings To Remortgage   Web Larger

Remortgaging means switching to a new mortgage deal. This will either be with your current lender or a new one.

Getting advice and moving to a new deal when the time is right can mean lower monthly mortgage payments, better interest rates, or releasing equity from your property.

Here are some signs it may be time to remortgage.

House Price Decrease   Web Larger

According to Nationwide Building Society’s latest House Price Index, house prices dropped 0.6% month on month in May – the first monthly decline this year.

Most Affordable UK Spots For First Time Buyers   Web Larger

Research from Lloyds identifies the most affordable areas in the UK for first-time buyers to be able to get onto the property ladder.

Kings Speech   Web Larger

On Wednesday, 13th May, King Charles delivered his speech at the House of Lords, outlining the government’s plans for the upcoming year.

Here is a summary of the housing and energy/environment points.