Buyers who are not UK resident pay an extra 2% on top of standard SDLT in England and Northern Ireland, and that 2% stacks on the 5% additional property surcharge. A non-resident second home at GBP 400,000 can owe over GBP 40,000.
The buy-to-let tax landscape has changed dramatically since 2017. Section 24, the 5% SDLT surcharge on second homes, and the scrapping of Furnished Holiday Lettings relief in April 2025 have made residential property investment more expensive. Here's a complete update for 2026.
Stamp Duty Land Tax can be reduced by a range of reliefs including first-time buyer relief, multiple dwellings relief (now abolished), group relief, and more. Here's what's available in 2026 and who qualifies.
From 1 April 2025, the stamp duty nil-rate threshold for first-time buyers dropped from £425,000 to £300,000. If you are buying above £300,000, your bill has gone up — sometimes by thousands. Here is what changed, worked examples, and what it means for you.
The 2% SDLT non-resident surcharge explained: who pays it, how it stacks with the additional-property surcharge, refund route, and worked examples for 2026/27.
Section 24 replaced mortgage interest deduction with a 20% tax credit in 2020. In 2026 it still hits higher-rate landlords hard — here's exactly how much extra tax you're paying and what to do about it.
