Spending Review 2015 – 3% increase on Stamp Duty for BTL and second homes

Spending Review 2015 – 3% increase on Stamp Duty for BTL and second homes

14:30 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago 224

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GeorgeThe Chancellor George Osborne in his spending review today announced that he will increase Stamp duty for Buy to Let properties and second homes with a surcharge of 3% from April 2016.

The Chancellor said he wanted to change from generation rent to generation buy. He was concerned that Cash Purchasers and foreign investors, who were not affected by the relief cap of 20% on  mortgage interest, along with Buy to Let investors were squeezing out home buyers. Therefore there will be an increase of 3% in stamp duty for non-main residence purchasers, which would also raise an additional £1bn in tax.

The Housing budget will now be doubled to £2bn per annum and a project to build 400,000 new affordable homes to buy will be started. Osborne said “this government chooses to build.”

These affordable homes will be offered to First Time Buyers at a discount of 20%, and 135,000 new homes will be offered under Help to Buy shared ownership.

A London Help to Buy scheme will offer interest-free loans up to a maximum of 40% of the value of a newly built home.

Restrictions on shared ownership will be removed and the planning system reformed to deliver more homes.

Councils will also receive an additional £10m to help homeless people.

It is the Chancellors clear policy to help solve the housing crises by building more homes and squeezing the competitiveness of the Private Rental Sector thus shifting the balance from renting to home ownership.

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Commercial property investors, with more than 15 properties, are expected to be exempt from the new charges.


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Comments

Seething Landlord

11:37 AM, 17th December 2015, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Roanch 21" at "17/12/2015 - 10:55":

I think you'll find that Government intend to consult on this in the New year.

Seething Landlord

11:44 AM, 17th December 2015, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Roanch 21" at "17/12/2015 - 10:55":

I think you'll find that Government intend to consult on this in the New year before confirming the details.

TheMaluka

16:50 PM, 17th December 2015, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Roanch 21" at "17/12/2015 - 10:55":

The problem is that it is not ill thought out. No thought at all has been used, the consultation, which will add the "thought", is next year.

And we fools elected the devils.

19:19 PM, 21st December 2015, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Kathleen Gell" at "25/11/2015 - 15:11":

... and follow they did. No real surprise.

steve p

0:52 AM, 22nd December 2015, About 8 years ago

Call me old fashioned but aren't you supposed to consult and then make a decision, not make a decision then have a consultation....?

Its a bit like the old give him a fair trial in the morning and hang him in the afternoon.

TheMaluka

8:14 AM, 22nd December 2015, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "steve p" at "22/12/2015 - 00:52":

Surely you mean "hang him in the Morning and give him a fair trial in the afternoon"

Harlequin

11:12 AM, 23rd December 2015, About 8 years ago

My mortgage advisor told me about this exemption as I have 15 and I said I'd just start selling with all this victimisation going on - is there anything clear on when you pay the extra stamp duty charge, I exchanged on 4 last year with completion next year and 2017 - I've heard conflicting but no definite answer on this.

Seething Landlord

11:28 AM, 23rd December 2015, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Harlequin Garden" at "23/12/2015 - 11:12":

It's my understanding that as long as you exchanged contracts before the announcement on 25th November 2015 the additional 3% SDLT will not be payable regardless of the completion date.

BTL INVESTOR SCOTLAND

10:44 AM, 29th December 2015, About 8 years ago

Now that the consultation on the 3% stamp duty is out, what other exemptions should be requested. I can think of at least 4:

1 - if a property is not suitable for a mortgage (unlikely to appeal to first time buyer)

2 – if a property has been on the market for 6 months or more (first time buyers have had ample opportunity to make an offer)

3 – if property is owned by an individual in their own name and the property is being purchased by a company owned by that individual (this helps mitigate the impact of clause 24 for landlords)

4 – if a property is already a second home or buy to let property

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