If you buy residential or commercial property in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you are currently required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on the purchase price when it exceeds £125,000 for residential property and £150,000 for commercial property. You are always required to pay SDLT on certain qualifying leases.
The rate of tax is tiered, dependent on the purchase price, with the marginal rate changing dependent on the total value of the purchase. Tax rates start at 1% and rise incrementally.
Click here to use the HMRC Stamp Duty Calculator.
Given the large sums of money now required to be paid when most people now buy a new home, the Government recently introduced relief for first time buyers purchasing a home on or after 22 November 2017. In order to benefit from this relief you, or anyone else you are buying with, must be a first time buyer.
Qualifying first time buyers have no stamp duty to pay on the first £300,000 and 5% payable on the remaining price up to £500,000. If the value of the property exceeds £500,000 then all SDLT is payable in the usual way.
If you are not a first time buyer then the standard SDLT rates continue to apply as before. Namely;
| Property or lease premium or transfer value | SDLT rate |
| Up to £125,000 | Zero |
| The next £125,000 (the portion from £125,001 to £250,000) | 2% |
| The next £675,000 (the portion from £250,001 to £925,000) | 5% |
| The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million) | 10% |
| The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million) |
12% |
In addition to first time buyer’s relief, there are other reliefs available to other specific groups including buyers of multiple dwellings, housebuilders taking homes in part exchange, compulsory purchases, charities, right to buy transactions, intercompany transactions, disposal of land that forms part of planning obligations and other reliefs.
Click here to see the First Time buyers Relief.
Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide
Recent posts
Different seasons can have a noticeable effect on property prices.
Research from Zoopla shows that spending out on certain features can fetch up to £29,000 during the summer months.
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 to cut homebuying times by around four weeks, and save first-time buyers around £650, says the government.
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.
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
7 days ago
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.
Signs it's time to remortgage
9 days ago
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.
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
19 May 2026
Research from Lloyds identifies the most affordable areas in the UK for first-time buyers to be able to get onto the property ladder.
More information
Trusted by
