Stamp duty 1st time buyer: Property of up to £250,000 ??

adindas

I am aware that the stamp duty has changed since March 23th 2012. I have heard that the fee is no longer free for first time buyer with property up to £250,000.


But after reading MSE website as well as from other source online I have seen that there is confusing information that for 1st time buyer of property up to £250,000m the duty of 1% is waived (free) ?

For instance here :
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/house-buying-guide
http://www.seemoney.co.uk/pages/services/conveyancing_fees/stamp-duty-rates.asp

If people could shed the light whether the stamp duty for for 1st time buyer of property up to £250,000 is still free or not?

Thanks

scottishblondie

No, the stamp duty holiday ended on the 24th of March of this year. First time buyers now have to pay stamp duty on properties over £125k, same as everyone else.

nick_

if you're quick and go direct Halifax are currently paying half of FTB's stamp duty. I'm told this ends next week....but that could be a load of bull. Rates are not as competetive as some though.

agrinnall

The OP is right to be confused though, the MSE guide does indeed still state that first time buyers pay no SDLT on properties up to £250K. That's a bit rubbish considering it changed over 2 months ago.

Stamp duty thresholds
Purchase price Stamp duty rate

Up to £125,000

Zero

£125,001 to £250,000

Zero (first-time buyers) 1% (everyone else)

£250,001 to £500,000

3%

£500,001 - £1 million

4%

£1 million or more

5%