Let's be clear about Stamp Duty
Caz Blake-Symes • August 10, 2021
What are the rules and rates moving forward?
Information regarding Stamp Duty from 1 July 2021
In the economic uncertainties during the pandemic, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduced a Stamp Duty holiday that ended on June 30 2021.
You usually pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on increasing portions of the property price when you buy residential property, for example a house or flat. SDLT only applies to properties over a certain value.
The amount you pay depends on:
• when you bought the property
• how much you paid for it
You must send an SDLT return if you pay more than £40,000 for a property - even if there’s no SDLT due. This is usually dealt with by your Solicitor or Conveyancer
Buying a home is likely the biggest financial commitment you will ever make. Whether you are a first-time buyer stepping onto the ladder, a homeowner looking to remortgage, or a seasoned investor expanding a buy-to-let portfolio, the process can often feel like a maze of jargon, paperwork, and fluctuating interest rate
Taking that first step onto the property ladder is one of the most exciting milestones of your life—but let’s be honest, it can also feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. Between deposit requirements, credit checks, and legal jargon, the process is daunting.
Recent global developments, including escalating tensions in the Middle East, have started to influence financial markets and, in turn, UK mortgage rates.
Understanding how these events filter through to borrowing costs can help you make more informed decisions.
If your current mortgage deal is coming to an end, you’ve likely started hearing the words "remortgage" and "product transfer" thrown around. In today’s shifting economic climate, making sure you are on the best possible mortgage rate is more important than ever.
we enter 2026, mortgage affordability remains one of the biggest concerns for homebuyers and homeowners alike. With interest rates, living costs, and lending criteria continuing to evolve, understanding what lenders look at when assessing affordability is more important than ever.
On 3 February, Santander are the first large lender to launch a First-time Buyer Mortgage over 95% LTV. It’s called My First Mortgage and is up to 98% LTV. Supporting FTBs is a key focus for us whilst lending responsibly.
This month’s edition is packed full of informative articles, including
• Welcome and overview from Phil Clark
• Base rate cut to 3.75%: what could it mean for mortgages?
• Interest-Only Mortgages For Later Life.
• Need Short-Term Property Finance?
• What You Should Know About Second Charge Mortgages
• Time to Remortgag
Image courtesy of Freepix
Happy New Year!
Hope you all had a good Christmas Break and avoided the dreaded coughs and colds.
I had the opportunity over the holiday to review many of the various property and finance reports available online, as well as those to which I subscribe.
Pleasingly, the general tone is very opti
I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2026
The Bank of England meets every six weeks to decide what should happen to interest rates, with the aim of keeping inflation to its target and keeping the wider economy healthy. Today, Base Rate was cut from 4% to 3.75%.