Latest SDLT changes, HMRC statistics, court cases, and policy updates affecting UK property buyers.
The High Value Council Tax Surcharge consultation closes 14 July 2026: deferral rules, a possible non-resident premium, and valuation by the VOA. Plus the reported £1.5m threshold cut that would catch 150,000 more homes, and why the £2m+ base is already shrinking.
The cross-party Housing Committee has urged the Government to consult on alternatives to stamp duty before the end of 2026, alongside council tax reform. The four options on the table, the industry reaction, and why reform is fiscally harder than it looks.
A Treasury FoI reveals £215m of lost SDLT and £65m of lost IHT before the High-Value Council Tax Surcharge takes effect in 2028, plus £150m to identify in-scope homes. Net revenue revised down from £1.4bn to £930m.
Rachel Reeves left SDLT untouched in the March 2026 Spring Statement. With only 41% of homes under the FTB threshold and 800,000 shelved moves, pressure grows for Autumn 2026 action.
The 5% surcharge, 17% corporate rate, and Scotland's 8% ADS. Entry cost analysis, rental yield vs SDLT payback, and whether BTL still makes financial sense for individual landlords.
HMRC data reveals 1 in 4 FTB relief claimants still paid tax. Average bill £4,073. Why the tiered relief system means buying above £300,000 always triggers a stamp duty charge.
The Welsh Revenue Authority raised the Wales LTT MDR minimum from 1% to 3% on 13 February 2026. What portfolio landlords and developers buying multiple Welsh properties need to know.
A 12-month data review of the April 2025 SDLT threshold reversion: 77,480 extra completions in the pre-deadline rush, the forestalling pattern across UK SDLT history, BTL/HRAD double-deadline analysis, FTB impact, and regional price effects.
The Scottish Government is reviewing LBTT with results expected before the end of the Parliamentary term. ADS, nil-rate thresholds, and first-time buyer relief all under scrutiny.
Northern city-regions are outperforming London and the South East. Stamp duty implications, transaction data, and regional cost comparisons for buyers and investors.
SDLT revenue analysis: £13.9bn collected in 2024-25 (+20% YoY). 6-year revenue trend, four-nation split (SDLT vs LBTT vs LTT), OBR forecasts, and SDLT's share of the UK tax base.
The Renters' Rights Act's conversion to periodic tenancies could trigger stamp duty liability for 150,000 tenants within three years.
The Autumn Budget 2025 introduced a high-value council tax surcharge affecting approximately 200,000 properties worth over £2 million.
In Sehgal v Revenue [2025] UKFTT 1439, the tribunal ruled a basement storage unit made a £10.65m purchase mixed-use, saving £1.75m in SDLT.
Every Budget and Autumn Statement SDLT change since 2020: COVID holiday, Sept 2022 mini-budget, Autumn Statement 2023, Autumn Budget 2024 (5% surcharge), April 2025 reversion, Autumn Budget 2025 (£2m High-Value Council Tax). Plus OBR forecasts to 2030-31.
Should the UK abolish stamp duty? Kemi Badenoch's £9-11bn abolition pledge, Cambridge 3.57% welfare research, IFS analysis, evidence from past holidays, and where Labour, Lib Dems and Reform UK stand.
From Conservative abolition to IPPR proportional property tax and the TBI loan model: every serious stamp duty reform proposal with the academic evidence behind each.
Side-by-side comparison of SDLT, LBTT, and LTT with worked examples from £200k to £1m. At £300k, you pay £2,500 in England vs £4,600 in Scotland.
