Stamp duty on transfers between spouses

Stamp duty on transfers between spouses

19:57 PM, 20th April 2015, About 9 years ago 23

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I have owned a property jointly with my husband since 1995. We transferred the mortgage from residential to buy to let in 2002 and now have 3 BTL properties in our portfolio. Stamp duty on transfers between spouses

My husband is 69 and to remortgage the property we agreed that it will be transferred into my name.

Advice from our mortgage broker was that transfers between husband and wife are exempt from capital gains tax and stamp duty. However, our conveyancing agent has informed me that this is not the case and a stamp duty of £1,450 is payable since the transfer is not by a court order.

Is this correct?

Many thanks in advance for your advice.

Sincerely

Sara


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Comments

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

20:07 PM, 20th April 2015, About 9 years ago

Hi Sara

I suspect your conveyancer might be right but there may also be a basis to mitigate most if not all of the stamp duty, if indeed a transfer is necessary at all. Our joint venture conveyancing firm specialises in such matters. For further details please see >>> http://buytoletconveyancing.co.uk/

Given that you appear to have a strong basis to question the advice of your mortgage adviser in respect of tax related issues you may also want to consider taking a second opinion in respect of his mortgage recommendations. 69 certainly isn't too old for some lenders to consider granting new 20 year mortgages. I suggest having a chat with Mark Edwards who I used to work with prior to my retirement from financial services back in 2009.

Prior to becoming a mortgage broker back in 2003 Mark Edwards was previously a senior tax investigator, hence my reasons for recommending him in particular. Please see >>> http://www.property118.com/member/?id=3042
.

Colin Dartnell

21:37 PM, 20th April 2015, About 9 years ago

Why not just re-mortgage jointly with the likes of The Mortgage Works who will lend up to your 90's.

You do not need any proof of income other than rental income on the property if you are considered an experienced landlord, and having 3 buy to lets is considered experienced (professional) elsewhere!

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

21:54 PM, 20th April 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Colin Dartnell" at "20/04/2015 - 21:37":

TMW were one of the lenders that I had in mind too Colin, hence my suggestions.
.

5:47 AM, 21st April 2015, About 9 years ago

Thank you Mark and Collin. I was with TMW but there fees are quite high compared to other lenders. What surprised me was that the mortgage broker never mentioned that a stamp duty was required for the transfer. Will take your advice on conveyancing

John Constant

10:57 AM, 21st April 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Saheer Gharbia" at "21/04/2015 - 05:47":

TMW usually have a lower fee option (£995) albeit with a higher rate.

Potential clients need to be under 70 when applying for a TMW mortgage now. Sara's husband's age is given as 69, but I'm too polite to ask a lady her age!

Ian Ringrose

11:49 AM, 21st April 2015, About 9 years ago

Often you only need to put 1% in the other name to get the mortgage, but then the income will have to be split 50:50 or 1:99 for tax depending on if you decide to do a Form 14.

patrick maher

11:50 AM, 21st April 2015, About 9 years ago

II believe that if you are transferring a property from both names to one name, Stamp Duty is payable based on what is owing on your mortgage as if you had paid half of the amount owing
. It would be the same even if you were just transferring the property without getting a remortgage. It sounds like you have a mortgage of £290,000.

12:09 PM, 21st April 2015, About 9 years ago

Thanks everyone, responding g to John's question, I am 51 and that was the reason for the change to get a better remortgage rate. Ian's suggestion sounds logical but was not an option suggested by the mortgage broker. His comments were that at 69 my husband's age would restrict access to a reasonable rate. The proposed rate was 2.13% from Natwest

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

13:10 PM, 21st April 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "patrick maher" at "21/04/2015 - 11:50":

Stamp Duty is based on the value of the asset transferred, not the liability, hence the mortgage outstanding is of no relevance.
.

Simon Gardner

13:13 PM, 21st April 2015, About 9 years ago

If a property is transferred to spouse, or into or out of joint names, and the spouse to whom the property is transferred takes over responsibility for the mortgage, the mortgage debt is treated as consideration for the transfer and is liable to SDLT.

Simon.

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