Chancellor unveils Stamp Duty holiday
Caz Blake-Symes • July 9, 2020
The Chancellor has said the average saving will be £4,500.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the Stamp Duty threshold will be increased to £500,000 immediately until March 31 next year. Sunak confirmed rumours of the Stamp Duty holiday during his summer economic update this afternoon. He said the Government will temporarily increase the nil-rate band of residential Stamp Duty in England and Northern Ireland from £125,000 to £500,000. This will apply from today (July 8th) until March 31 2021.
The Treasury said nearly nine out of ten people getting on or moving up the property ladder will pay no Stamp Duty at all. The aim is to boost the housing market and the wider economy to help the UK recover from the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after the property market was effectively closed between the end of March and mid-May.
Agents and portals have said there has been more demand since the market reopened but it is so far unknown if this will transfer into sales. Rightmove said there are more than 510,000 properties with asking prices under £500,000 on the portal, making up 81% of all residential stock for sale in England. The property website said 291,000 properties under £500,000 are currently available for sale, making up 78% of all properties listed in England. It said people enquiring about properties under £500,000 on Rightmove makes up 84% of all buyer enquiries in England.
Mark Peck, head of residential at Cheffins estate agency, said this could provide the incentive many unsure buyers and sellers need. He said: “Whilst the market has already been significantly busy post-lockdown, cutting Stamp Duty on purchases up to £500,000 really will be the catalyst get the industry flying. The most likely impact of this measure will be a flood of buyers coming into the market who previously had sat on their hands due to political and economic uncertainty, and this flurry of activity will bring with it price rises as demand outweighs supply. He suggested it would also boost those with a low deposit as they could now increase it with the Stamp Duty savings.
How much will buyers save?
How much a buyer in England or Northern Ireland could save under the temporary measure will depend on how much the property costs – as a general rule, the more expensive the property, the more you'll save (up to the maximum of £500,000). For example, if you buy a property for £400,000 in England and you're not a first-time buyer, you would usually pay £10,000 (made up of £2,500 on the portion between £125,001 and £250,000, and £7,500 on the portion between £250,001 and £400,000). But for now, you'd pay no stamp duty on the property at all – saving you £10,000. The Chancellor has said the average saving will be £4,500.
What if I've exchanged but not completed?
The requirement to pay stamp duty is triggered when you complete the purchase of the property. So if you've exchanged prior to 8 July but not completed, you'll benefit from the increased thresholds.
Residential Rates on purchases from 8 July 2020 to 31 March 2021
If you purchase and complete on a residential property between 8 July 2020 to 31 March 2021, you only start to pay SDLT on the amount that you pay for the property above £500,000. These rates apply whether you are buying your first home or have owned property before.
You can use the table below to work out the SDLT due:
Up to £500,000 Zero
The next £425,000 (the portion from £500,001 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%
From 8 July 2020 to 31 March 2021 the special rules for first time buyers are replaced by the reduced rates set out above.
Higher rates for additional properties
The 3% higher rate for purchases of additional dwellings applies on top of revised standard rates above for the period 8 July 2020 to 31 March 2021.
The following rates apply:
Up to £500,000 3%
The next £425,000 (the portion from £500,001 to £925,000) 8%
The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million) 13%
The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million) 15%
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Stepping onto the property ladder is one of the most exciting milestones in life. However, between understanding deposits, navigating affordability checks, and choosing from thousands of deals, the process can quickly feel overwhelming.
Whether you are looking for property in the Bristol, Bath or Exeter areas, working
Saving for a house deposit remains the single biggest hurdle facing first-time buyers in today’s property market. As a result, more parents and grandparents are searching for ways to step in and give the next generation a head start. The good news? If you’ve built up equity in your own home over the years, you may be able to support your child without having to drain your cash savings or liquidate investments. 4 Main Ways Families Can Help First-Time Buyers 1. A Cash Gift (Gifted Deposit) This is the most straightforward route. You provide funds directly to your child to put toward their deposit or purchasing costs. • What lenders require: A signed gifted deposit letter confirming that the money is an absolute gift with no expectation of repayment, along with proof of funds showing where the money originated. 2. Releasing Equity From Your Own Home If your capital is tied up in your property, a remortgage or a further advance allows you to unlock cash built up in your home equity. You can then use these released funds to fund your child's deposit without dipping into your emergency savings. 3. A Joint Borrower, Sole Proprietor (JBSP) Mortgage A JBSP mortgage allows you to add your income to the mortgage application to boost your child's overall borrowing power. • Key benefit: While you share responsibility for the monthly mortgage repayments, your child remains the sole owner on the property deeds. This avoids triggering additional Stamp Duty costs that usually apply when purchasing a second home. 4. Family-Assist or Springboard Mortgages If you prefer not to give money away permanently, a family-assist mortgage lets you place savings into a linked collateral account or secure a portion against your property equity. • How it works: Your savings act as security for your child’s loan for a set term (typically 3 to 5 years). Provided all mortgage payments are kept up to date, your money is returned to you at the end of the term. What Lenders Will Look For When submitting a mortgage application involving family help, lenders will carefully inspect the source of funds to satisfy UK anti-money laundering regulations: Gifted Deposit Letter Signed declaration stating the cash is a non-refundable gift. Proof of Funds Bank statements showing the accumulation or source of the capital. Overseas Documentation Extra verification and audit trails if funds originate from family abroad. How Bristol Mortgages Online Can Help Navigating family mortgages and equity release requires choosing the right structure for both your family's finances and your child's long-term independence. Whether you want to explore remortgaging your home to release funds or structure a Joint Borrower, Sole Proprietor arrangement, our specialist, Phil Clark, at Bristol Mortgages Online, guides you and your child through every step of the process. Ready to explore your options? How to Contact Us for Advice Phil Clark will personally deal with your enquiry Tel 0117 325 1511 Email info@swmortgages.com Complete a form via our website www.bristolmortgagesonline.com Please remember: YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE • #BristolMortgagesOnline • #BristolMortgages • #BristolMortgageBroker • #Remortgage • #RemortgageAdvice • #MortgageBroker • #helpfromparents • #equityrealease • # gettingonthepropertyladder
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