From 1 April 2016 people purchasing additional properties such as buy to let properties and second homes will pay an extra 3% in stamp duty.

This means that tax bill on a buy-to-let property costing £250,000 will jump from £2,500 to £8,800.

This is the second major blow to buy-to-let investors this year, after the summer Budget in July reduced landlords’ ability to offset mortgage interest costs against rental income. That change will be phased in between 2017 and 2020 and is will dramatically reduce the yields available on investment properties and may even make some existing buy-to-lets unprofitable.

This may of course trigger a wave of landlords looking to offload their properties, which may in turn make more first time buyer properties available. Any increase in property supply stops prices from soaring.

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Property search site Zoopla has estimated that the UK housing market will end 2025 with approximately 1.15 million completed sales – 4.5% more than the previous year.

Take a look at the 2025 summary of the UK housing market.

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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.

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If buying your first property, or moving home, is on your to-do list this year, the new year can be a great time to take this big step. In this short blog, we look at what you need to consider as you plan and prepare for your home-buying journey.

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Just because the Bank of England decides to reduce the base rate, this doesn't automatically mean that your mortgage rate will go down.

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Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has delivered the Autumn 2025 budget. We have summarised the government's plans for tax and spending.

Renters' Rights Act

14 Nov 2025

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The Renter’s Rights Bill became law at the end of October, which means it has been signed off by the King, and it is now the Renters’ Rights Act. Despite this becoming law, these changes are likely to start changing within the next six months, with the aim of being fully implemented throughout 2026 and into 2027.

 

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A welcome change in school is coming as financial literacy is due to become compulsory in schools in England.

The Government has announced that as part of the new national curriculum, children in primary and secondary education will be required to learn about budgeting, compound interest, managing money, and mortgages.

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Forbes has published a global ranking of stunning locations and one popular picturesque corner of the UK has nabbed top spot.