Blog
Homebuyers need to start purchases this month to take advantage of Stamp Duty savings
19 Nov

Thousands of people across the UK have purchased new homes to take advantage of the Government’s Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday, but Legal & General Mortgage Club has warned a backlog in the sales and mortgage process means that sales need to be completed quickly.
The SDLT holiday announced earlier this year, ends in March 2021. Homebuyers need to complete a purchase before then to take advantage of not paying Stamp Duty on purchases below £500,000.
Those buying second properties or expanding a wider property portfolio also benefit from the holiday, although they must still pay the three per cent additional home surcharge. For a person buying a second home, this could still cut the amount of SDLT they pay in half in some cases.
Legal & General Mortgage Club explained that bumper levels of activity and demand in the housing market since it re-opened in the summer had left lenders, solicitors, and surveyors overwhelmed, causing delays to the homebuying process.
It said that it was taking nearly four months on average for transactions to go through, which is why homebuyers needed to act soon.
The delays have been further complicated by the difficulties of the pandemic and changes to individuals’ incomes.
A study by the Legal & General Mortgage Club found, for example, that borrowers with more complex backgrounds, such as those with impaired credit histories or who have been on furlough, may need to allow up to six to eight weeks to get approved for a mortgage.
Kevin Roberts, a Director at Legal & General Mortgage Club, said: “The Government’s Stamp Duty holiday has helped to encourage many hopeful buyers to press ahead with their homeownership plans, providing a much-needed boost to the economy.
“However, those wishing to take advantage of the holiday will need to plan carefully to avoid missing the March 2021 deadline, particularly if they have their own property to sell first.”
Mr Roberts added that policymakers may wish to consider the strict deadlines, so that those in the homebuying process aren’t unfairly penalised. He said: “As homebuyers rush to take advantage of the Stamp Duty holiday, policymakers need to consider if a tapering of the Stamp Duty deadline is needed instead of a hard deadline.
“We need to avoid those moving or purchasing a home missing out through delays after 31 March when the holiday ends.”
Link: Homebuyers should start process by November to net stamp duty savings
Archive
- Self-Assessment late payment penalties relaxed but interest still accrues
- Business insurance rates are on the rise
- The advantages of electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes
- Consultations on future of Companies House could see filing deadlines slashed
- Voluntary and compulsory strike-off processes paused in response to national lockdown
- Don’t forget to claim home working tax relief
- Large and medium-sized businesses need to be ready for IR35
- The VAT Reverse Charge for the Construction Industry Scheme – Are you ready?
- Basic rate taxpayers could face ‘high income’ child benefit charge
- The VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme
- COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan repayment period extended
- Calculating Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme claims for annually paid directors
- HM Revenue & Customs waives late filing penalties for Self-Assessment taxpayers who file by 28 February – but payment deadline remains
- Requests for exemption from publication of furlough claims must be submitted by Monday 25 January
- Only a few days are left to submit applications for the third SEISS grant
- What could Budget 2021 have in store?
- HM Revenue & Customs increases the threshold for Self-Assessment online payment plan service to £30,000
- Independent commission argues against annual wealth tax but advocates a one-off charge
- Could the Government be about to launch a new permanent state-backed small business loan scheme?
- HMRC issues new warning over lockdown fraudsters
- FSB proposes move to turn Covid emergency debt into shared ownership schemes
- VAT – Post-Brexit arrangements
- Insurance industry to pay out on COVID-19 business interruption claims
- Are you making full use of the Government’s COVID-19 financial support package?
- Government extends agricultural visa scheme to fill jobs left by EU workers
- Brexit: UK Trader Scheme to support movement of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland
- Coronavirus furlough and loan schemes further extended
- Brexit trade deal negotiations continue as businesses warned to prepare for a ‘no deal’ scenario
- VAT under the Northern Ireland Protocol
- Northern Ireland customs duty arrangements confirmed
- Government launches new export finance guarantee scheme
- How can your business prepare for customs and VAT after Brexit?
- UK launches points-based post-Brexit immigration system
- Business Secretary writes to professional services sector ahead of end of Brexit transition period
- HMRC updates Statutory Residence Test due to COVID-19
- Scammers are targeting Self-Assessment taxpayers, says HMRC
- Eat Out to Help Out compliance checks underway
- Businesses face legal action over unpaid business rates
- HMRC publishes consultation on MTD for Corporation Tax
- HM Revenue & Customs issues Capital Gains Tax reminder
- Virtual Christmas parties eligible for £150 annual function exemption
- Grandparents set to increase gifting following pandemic and families set to inherit more than expected
- Access to European Union VAT refund system to end on 31 March 2021, HMRC confirms
- Brexit: How to claim grant funding to help cover the costs of completing new customs declarations
- Companies House to scrap paper reminder letters
- Third round of Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) opens on Monday with tighter eligibility criteria
- Important deadlines approach for the furlough scheme
- Spending Review highlights long-term economic impact of Coronavirus pandemic
- The New COVID-19 Tier System
- VAT after the Brexit transition
- IFS predicts tax rises of more than £40 billion a year by the middle of the decade
- More than 50,000 people claim working from home tax relief through HM Revenue & Customs online portal
- HMRC called on to simplify the administration of tax reliefs
- A quarter of businesses don’t think they will be ready for post-Brexit Britain
- HMRC warns taxpayers still aren’t ready for Making Tax Digita
- Homebuyers need to start purchases this month to take advantage of Stamp Duty savings
- Daily penalties waived for Self-Assessment late filing
- Furlough scheme update – Publication of claims and employees serving notice
- Extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme FAQ
- Government extends furlough scheme and provides a boost to SEISS
- Government extends further help to businesses and the self-employed during national lockdown
- National Lockdown – Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Business Support Update
- Government extends further support to businesses affected by COVID-19
- HM Revenue & Customs publishes further details of the Job Support Scheme
- Annual Investment Allowance – Time is running out
- Accounting for mobile phone use
- Time to prepare (once again) for the VAT reverse charge
- Is the Government considering a National Living Wage freeze?
- Companies House reforms to combat fraud and assist businesses
- Price of plastic bags in England to double to 10p
- New Coronavirus regulations place self-isolation obligations on employers
- Latest SEISS grants introduce new qualifying conditions
- Businesses may be entitled to insurance pay-out after important judgment
- Chancellor expands Job Support Scheme and grants to businesses facing new COVID-19 restrictions
- Government issues new guidance on the Job Retention Bonus
- Download the Government’s guide to the Job Support Scheme
- Important message to clients and friends: We are working remotely on recommendation from the PM, please read the following update
- Chancellor announces new Job Support Scheme and package of business support measures
- Change to Companies House bank detailsanies House bank details
- More than £1 billion in tax reliefs for creative industry
- Advisory Fuel Rates for next quarter come into effect
- Key dates for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
- The first Child Trust Funds (CTFs) can now be claimed
- Four in five SMEs are confident over their Coronavirus recovery
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) writes to 3,000 employers over furlough claims
- Government to launch new local lockdown grants
- CBILS ends on 30th September 2020
- How will you rebuild and recover? Funding launched to cover cost of professional advice
- Tax changes outlined in draft Finance Bill 2020 – 2021
- Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme expanded to more businesses
- VAT treatment of imported goods up to £135 to change under new rules
- HM Revenue & Customs publishes Job Retention Bonus guidance
- Small business Covid recovery boosted by £20million in new grants
- HM Revenue & Customs sets out Making Tax Digital plans for VAT and Income Tax
- HM Revenue & Customs sets out details of penalties for breaches of furlough and self-employment scheme rules
- Reminder: VAT payment deferral period has ended
- Banks list top 10 Coronavirus scams
- HM Revenue & Customs issues ‘nudge’ letters to people suspected of having undeclared overseas assets
- Second round of Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) opens on Monday
- Key dates for Coronavirus support schemes, tax and Companies House