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.

stamp

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


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Comments

Steven Burman

15:35 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

It is now absolutely clear that Osborne and his cronies (with the full support of the Commies in the Labour Party) are intent on the complete destruction of BTL for private investors. It is clear we are wasting our time, energy and breath in trying to argue against the imminent destruction of our income.

The only recourse left to us is to make the introduction of Osborne's suicidal policy as difficult and disruptive as possible. We should now concentrate on creating as much 'havoc' as possible to ensure that Osborne is left with an almighty mess to clear up when 'the s**t hits the fan'.

There is going to be a significant amount of collateral damage and people will lose their homes - THIS IS NOT OUR FAULT!

Osborne has declared war.....he is entirely responsible for the casualties and the subsequent fall-out.

What other choice have we been left with?

SB

AnthonyJames

15:57 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "denis knockton" at "25/11/2015 - 14:44":

I think it does hit small limited companies and SPVs. From https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-and-autumn-statement-2015-documents/spending-review-and-autumn-statement-2015:

"Stamp duty land tax: additional properties – Higher rates of SDLT will be charged on purchases of additional residential properties (above £40,000), such as buy to let properties and second homes, from 1 April 2016. The higher rates will be 3 percentage points above the current SDLT rates. The higher rates will not apply to purchases of caravans, mobile homes or houseboats, or to corporates or funds making significant investments in residential property given the role of this investment in supporting the government’s housing agenda. The government will consult on the policy detail, including on whether an exemption for corporates and funds owning more than 15 residential properties is appropriate."

So it appears that if you are a small builder or developer doing renovations and new-builds and have fewer than 15 properties, you will be caught by this new tax. Of course there will be a consultation process, but the current intention appears to be to favour larger corporate investors in residential rental property, and attack small landlords and developers.

Costas Tzanos

16:00 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Sam Roberts" at "25/11/2015 - 14:53":

Clearly the golden era is over. Will have to wait to see what he means by " we’ll consult on the details so that corporate property development isn’t affected".

If so, then you may well still be able to carry on as a limited company...although I am sure there will be conditions based on what form you company takes

denis knockton

16:20 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Tony Atkins" at "25/11/2015 - 15:57":

Tony,

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting. However, the size of investment cannot be determined by the no. of properties but the size of funds put in. The south and north divide comes to mind. A small number of BTL property portfolio may be worth £5m. in London wheres in the North this would be a very major player. So, once again, George has not thought this through has he?

money manager

16:30 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Ros ." at "25/11/2015 - 14:57":

help to Buy etc is a money transfer system to big builders, plain and simple. My own son had the direct experience from a new build prospective purchase nd the tranches that became avilable either side of the scheme.

16:43 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

On the plus side, it only affects purchases, so it doesn't directly move the goalposts for existing owners, unlike the restriction on tax relief for mortgage interest.

But I guess it will catch those people who decide to move their portfolio to a limited company structure. Which makes it a very cunning move by Mr Osborne.

Paul Baker

16:46 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

So, if a BTL or a Holiday Home is purchased after April 2016 for £300,000, I calaculate that there would be a total of £14,000 SDLT to pay on the transaction! Ouch!!

Current rates
New rates with surcharge

Up to £125,000
0%
3%

The next £125,000 (the portion from £125,001 to £250,000)
2%
5%

The next £675,000 (the portion from £250,001 to £925,000)
5%
8%

The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million)
10%
13%

The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million)
12%
15%

Neil Patterson

16:48 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Paul Baker" at "25/11/2015 - 16:46":

I have added the new stamp duty chart to the article for reference.

Howard Reuben Cert CII (MP) CeRER

16:50 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

Is it still 0% up to £40,000 and then 3% from £40,001 to £125,000?

Gary Dully

17:10 PM, 25th November 2015, About 9 years ago

£40,000 before being taxed to renovate a "Minger"?

I know now that George Osborne is on an acid trip.

Well that seems to be recipe for a collapse in "Strivers" wanting to enter our industry and should be interesting to see what happens next.

So to summarise the conservatives plan for Private Landlords who renovate the unwanted "Mingers"

Cost of Building = x
Deposit Required = D
Lenders Fees = L
BTL SDLT = 3%
Normal SDLT = 2%
Refurb costs = y
Markup = z
Licensing Fee = w
Unoccupied Council Tax = u
Selling and Purchase Costs = v
Advertising Costs = t
Void Period Costs = f
Clause 24 costs = 100% + of profits made.
Training Costs to be a Landlord = G

So it's obvious that we have an instant formula for success which anybody can achieve.

It's so simple.....just follow this formula.

Success in BTL = x + (BTL SDLT*0.03)+ WTF + (is this F ng Governemnt) / Trying 2 (do to my Anal Cavity)
Then Clause 24 the result, if the smallest room is larger than 6.5sq m Then simply remove your Gold Teeth, ransack your mattress and mug your grandchildren.
Then you just write a letter to your tenants.

Then increase your rent, ( phased in until 2020) and place that figure in a darkened closet under some mushroom compost.
Adjust that figure by a wear and tear allowance of Nil and write a cheque for your bank.
Then pay your accountant to fill in your tax return stating no profit and buy a shotgun and mask for the local post office , so that HMRC can tell you that you owe them £25,000.

There you go, what's so hard about that, then?

Let's all celebrate the good news!

Lady Penelope and myself shall be dining on caviar for tea and I suggest that you join us at Harrods, before we jet off to the carribean for our puddings.

Or am I dreaming all of this?

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