The cities offering FTBs with the best chance of a SDLT-free property purchase

22nd Nov 2024

New research from Lomond reveals that 66% of homes currently listed for sale fall below the first-time buyer stamp duty threshold of £425,000, with more affordable areas of the market reaching up to 90% of SDLT-exempt stock. 

As it stands, first-time buyers don’t pay stamp duty on any purchase of up to £425,000. Lomond analysed current stock for sale to reveal what percentage of current listings fall below this threshold and therefore offer the opportunity of a stamp duty free purchase for first-time buyers.  

66% of current stock falls under SDLT threshold 

The research shows that across England as a whole, 66% of all homes currently on the market are listed with an asking price below the £425,000 threshold.  

But which major cities offer first-time buyers the best chance of a foot on the ladder without forking out for stamp duty? 

Bradford is home to the highest level of stamp duty exempt stock for first-time buyers, where 94% of all homes currently listed have an asking price below the £425,000 threshold.  

Top Cities Offering the Best Stamp Duty-Free Options 

Newcastle (91.7%), Liverpool (91.2%), Birmingham (88.6%) and Manchester (87.9%) also rank high in this respect, as do Leicester (87.7%), Sheffield (86.2%) and Nottingham (85.4%).  

In contrast, just 32.1% of current for sale stock found across London offers first-time buyers the opportunity of a stamp duty free purchase, whilst in Brighton this figure sits at just 53.6%.  

High demand from first-time buyers 

However, first-time buyers are best advised to act quickly, as 47% of this stamp duty exempt stock has already gone under offer or sold subject to contract across England.  

First-time buyer demand for a stamp duty exempt purchase is at its highest in Bristol, where 62.3% of all homes listed for sale under £425,000 have already been snapped up.   

Sheffield (59.4%) and Newcastle (57.4%) are also home to particularly high demand from first-time buyers.   

Stamp duty change on the horizon 

Following Labour’s Autumn Budget on October 30th, the first-time buyer stamp duty threshold will revert back to £300,000 at the end of March 2025. 

Lomond CEO, Ed Phillips, commented: 

“The lower stamp duty threshold has been a welcome reprieve for first-time buyers already shelling out vast sums to get on the ladder and, as our research shows, there’s plenty of stock available in the current market that would allow them to avoid a stamp duty when getting that first foot on the ladder. 

“However, the clock is ticking and those who wish to maximise the benefits of the current stamp duty exemptions need to do so before March 2025. Whilst this may sound like a long way away, the deadline will come around soon enough, particularly when you consider the prolonged timeline required when purchasing a property.” 

Data tables and sources 

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