stamp duty
-
Housing Market
Property transactions go from ‘strength to strength’
Residential property sales in the UK hit an 18-month high in August, following a 3.1 per cent month-on-month rise, the latest figures published by HMRC have revealed. The seasonally adjusted data shows that 106,480 property transactions took place in August – more than any month since February 2014. It is the third month in succession the home sales of more than 100,000 have been recorded, which is welcome news for agents. But sales still remain significantly below the monthly sales of close to 150,000 recorded at the height of the property boom in 2006. The seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of residential property transactions in August rose by 5.7 per cent compared with the corresponding month last year. Peter Rollings (left) CEO of Marsh & Parsons, commented, “Taking into account seasonal adjustment, property sales are going from strength to strength, and showing great improvement from this time last year. “With the spectre of higher interest rates being kept at bay, buyer demand is in full swing and summer sales have continued to blossom in August. After slightly fewer home sales than we would expect in a typical July, buyers last month were showing a new enthusiasm and readiness to…
Read More » -
Latest property news
Stamp duty changes save homebuyers £701m
The Stamp Duty Land Tax reforms that were introduced in December last year have saved UK homeowners £701million in the six months since the changes came into force, according to myhomemove. The Government’s estimate that the changes to how stamp duty is levied has cut the tax for 98 per cent of people purchasing homes under £937,500, is supported by the research carried out by the conveyancing service provider, which found that since the reforms each house buyer below this level has saved an average of £1,400. “The stamp duty reforms have saved UK home buyers a significant amount of money since its introduction and provided an important boost to the property market, just as house transactions were starting to slow down in the run up to the General Election,” said Doug Crawford, CEO of myhomemove. He points out that the changes have had a particularly positive impact on those struggling the most to get onto the property ladder, including first-time-buyers, as they can now save more money towards a deposit for their purchase. Crawford (left) continued, “Under the old ‘slab’ system, there was a substantial increase in price at the stamp duty thresholds, which the reforms have reduced significantly,…
Read More » -
Housing Market
Significant rise in residential property transactions
There has been a sharp increase in the volume of residential property transactions in the UK in the last five years, according to Ludlow Thompson. The company report that transactions have risen by 37 per cent in the last five years, from 878,720 in 2010-11 to over 1.2 million in 2014-15, helping to boost the wider economy. HM Revenue and Customs data reveals that over £10 billion has been raised in revenue from stamp duty on property and land over the past 12 months, which is more than capital gains tax and inheritance tax collectively. Stephen Ludlow, the company’s Chairman, commented, “Not only does the increased activity show that the residential property market is booming, the increased revenue from stamp duty is hugely beneficial in putting the UK on a firmer financial footing.” Last week, HMRC data revealed that the number of residential property transactions reached 100,790 in March, down 2.4 per cent compared to the corresponding month in 2014. “House sale completions are limping along as we approach the final furlongs before the election,” said Adrian Gill (left), Director of Your Move and Reeds Rains estate agents.” But while many prospective buyers are currently dragging their heels, Gill expects…
Read More » -
Housing Market
Ed’s last stand: “a load of cobblers”
General Elections bring out the opinions of the electorate and property people have been more than forthcoming in these last days before the big election day on 7th May. Naomi Heaton (left), CEO of London Central Portfolio says that Ed Miliband’s “last stand” is “a load of cobblers”. Among her points are: “The latest Labour pledge is to abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers buying homes worth up to £300,000 for the next three years. They have said that it will benefit nine in 10 such buyers to the tune of £5,000. Rubbish. “Labour is clearly very bad at its sums, which is why, of course, we are so worried about them running the economy. “The average purchase price for a first time buyer outside London is £137,120, (Halifax). Following the Stamp Duty reforms introduced by the Conservative coalition last December, the Stamp Duty charge for buyers at this level is just £242. This is what the Labour policy would save, not £5,000. “If we look at the country as a whole, including London, the average price for a first time buyer, is £171,870. Again, due to the recent reforms, Labour would be knocking off £937 off their purchase costs,…
Read More » -
Agencies & People
Resi Roundtable
Let Alliance invited Chester agents to meet to discuss current issues in the property market. Sheila Manchester reports.
Read More » -
Features
Manifestos, markets and mansions
Election fever is here. The countdown has begun. Jeremy Leaf reviews pre-manifesto statements to see what could happen on 7th May.
Read More » -
Housing Market
Scottish Government revises property tax after UK stamp duty changes
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced a series of changes to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) – which will replace stamp duty for homebuyers in Scotland – following Chancellor George Osborne’s amends to stamp duty in his Autumn Statement in December. Among the headline amendments, is the fact that homes in Scotland worth up to £145,000 will not now attract any tax, up from the previously proposed £135,000. For sales between £145,000 and £250,000, a tax rate of 2 per cent will be applied, with the introduction of a new rate of 5 per cent between £250,000 and £325,000. Mr Swinney had previously planned a tax rate of 10 per cent on residential properties sold for between £250,000 and £1 million – prompting concerns that those acquiring family homes could be hit. However, the 10 per cent rate will be applied to properties valued between £325,000 and £750,000. The top rate of 12 per cent – which was previously going to apply to residential properties worth in excess of £1 million – will now take effect from £750,000. The Deputy First Minister defended the Scottish national Party’s (SNP) decision to change the taxes following the Chancellor’s surprise…
Read More » -
Latest property news
Stamp Duty Reform
Every buyer, seller and estate agent in the land would have liked to see Stamp Duty abolished but we all knew that wouldn’t happen. However, George Osborne, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, dealt a masterstroke to the Opposition party with his dramatic – and immediate – Stamp Duty reform. Thousands of pounds saved in Stamp Duty payments – for 98 per cent of all homebuyers – will give potential buyers a real impetus to move. It’s another way of clobbering the rich to butter up Middle England voters.” This was a carefully constructed bomb among a whole salvo of missiles aimed at the Labour Party’s election campaign. It will certainly catch the votes of most estate agents when it comes to the crunch next May. Vote-catching aside, this was a brave – and clever – way of reforming tax which removes the need for a Mansion Tax, while the wealthy (those able to afford more than £937,000 for a home) can console themselves that it is a one-off payment on purchase, rather than an additional annual tax. Changes in a nutshell Old regime: Stamp Duty applies to all properties over £125,000. It was calculated in bands and even if the…
Read More » -
Uncategorised
Chancellor’s reforms may thaw the chilly housing market
Designs on Property tracks and summarises the monthly property indices. Kate Faulkner says, “The question is, will the great news on Stamp Duty deliver more sellers?”
Read More » -
Guest Blogs
Property taxes must be fair!
I’m writing this article as the Scottish Parliament is about to announce radical changes to Stamp Duty which will come into effect from 1st April 2015. What is proposed is a progressive system rather than the crude system that operates now under which an increase of just £1 in the sale price can trigger an increase in the amount of Stamp Duty due of up to £40,000. I really hope that the Scottish review will cause the UK Parliament to look again at this grossly unfair tax. The current system is completely illogical and perverse and the consequence is that virtually no sales are agreed at prices that slightly exceed the break points of £125,000, £250,000, £500,000, £1 million and £2 million. Why should a buyer of a property at £250,001 pay £5,000 more tax than someone who buys the identical house next door for £250,000? A millionaire in a 10-bed mansion in northern England will pay nowt! The unfairness of the tax causes enormous resentment and distorts the housing market because people will inevitably reduce their offer to the nearest tax threshold. In years gone by, buyers and sellers could find ways around the problem by selling the fixtures…
Read More »
