Buying a second home or buy-to-let? A 5% SDLT surcharge applies on top of standard rates. Full guide with worked examples and refund rules for 2026/27.
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.
Shared ownership UK 2026: buying 25–75% of a home, how staircasing works, SDLT on every purchase, service charges, lease extension costs, resale restrictions, and when it actually makes financial sense.
A step-by-step UK first-time buyer guide for 2026: deposit, LISA bonus, mortgage in principle, SDLT relief, conveyancing, surveys and completion — with realistic numbers.
What does it actually cost to move house in the UK in 2026? A full breakdown of stamp duty, conveyancing, surveys, removals, mortgage fees and the hidden extras, with a worked example.
FTB stamp duty changed April 2025: nil-rate reverted to £300k, purchase cap £500k. Real cost examples, Scotland LBTT, Wales LTT and strategies for London buyers.
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.
Non-UK resident buyers of residential property in England or Northern Ireland pay a 2% SDLT surcharge on top of normal rates — and the 5% second-home surcharge stacks. Full breakdown with worked examples.
Beyond the deposit, a UK first-time buyer in 2026 typically spends £4,000–£8,000 in fees, surveys, taxes and moving costs. Here's the full itemised list with realistic numbers on a £250k purchase.
How much stamp duty (SDLT, LBTT, LTT) you pay on a £300,000 home varies by hundreds of pounds across the UK nations. Full comparison for first-time buyers, home-movers and second-home purchasers in 2026.
Part 4 of our Spring Budget 2026 deep-dive — SDLT thresholds, first-time buyer relief, second-home surcharges, the housing market response and what it means for buyers, sellers and landlords.
