Barratt promises not to repeat ‘Stamp Duty paid’ claims

Developer Barratt London, which trades as BDW Trading Ltd, has been reported to the Advertising Standards Authority for an email it sent out to potential buyers. One of the recipients complained to the watchdog about claims made within the email that buyers could “secure your Zone 1 apartment with Stamp Duty Paid”. But the claim made appeared to be less generous than the email suggested and the member of the public challenged whether the claim was misleading. This was  because it implied that all the Stamp Duty due would be paid by Barratt when in fact only Stamp Duty up to 3% would be paid. Therefore, because of the cost of the properties, this meant none of the apartments within the development would have all the stamp duty paid. On the Barratt website it states that Barratt “may be able to pay the Stamp Duty for you up to a maximum of 4% of the purchase price of your new Barratt Home”. But the duty is levied at 5% for properties between £250,000 and £925,000, and at 10% between £925,000 and £1.5 million. So for example at Barratt London’s luxury Landmark Place overlooking Tower Bridge within Zone 1 of the…