Stamp Duty

hackman

Hi - advice needed. My parents purchased a house in Wales with the intent to move there to live. However during the proceedings, my father was diagnosed with 2 illnesses and these illnesses went on to cause stress and anxiety and further complications.

My parents deliberated and came to the painful decision to stay where they were and sell the house in Wales.

They paid a stamp duty of £4900 on a purchase price of £148,000. They sold the property for the same price WITHOUT MOVING IN. Thus they incurred solicitors and estate agents fees.

My question therefore is: can the recalim the stamp duty? If so what is the best method to do so and who can they contact?

Thanks Guys and Gals

TamsinC

no - doesn't matter whether you move in or not - it's a duty on buying a house.

davidmcn

Can't see any reason why they'd be able to reclaim it, no. The fact they didn't move in isn't relevant (though if they had moved in and then sold the previous house they'd have been able to reclaim the additional rate SDLT).

buggy_boy

Unfortunately the reclaim is for main (only) residence only, as this never became the main residence then no, you seem to be one of the unintended victims of the surcharge.

Think about if that property was a holiday home or a BTL, intention counts for nothing, its actually rather sad as I don't believe the 3% addition charge was meant to catch your parents.

kinger101

buggy_boy wrote: »

Unfortunately the reclaim is for main (only) residence only, as this never became the main residence then no, you seem to be one of the unintended victims of the surcharge.

Think about if that property was a holiday home or a BTL, intention counts for nothing, its actually rather sad as I don't believe the 3% addition charge was meant to catch your parents.

I think you're a bit confused. OP - Ignore this. TamsinC and davidmcn answered correctly.

hackman

Thanks to everyone that replied - I guess they'll just have to take the hit
Steve