UK Stamp Duty Changes in 2025: What Buyers Need to Know

July 2, 2026

From 1 April 2025, the SDLT nil-rate threshold for standard purchases reverted from £250,000 to £125,000, and the first-time buyer nil-rate threshold reverted from £425,000 to £300,000. This means buyers completing after that date generally pay more SDLT than they would have in the preceding two years. If you're a first-time buyer purchasing a home above £500,000, you no longer qualify for any relief and pay standard rates on the full price. Buy-to-let investors and second-home buyers continue to pay the additional 5% surcharge introduced in October 2024 (up from 3%). The practical takeaway: run the numbers before you exchange, since the same purchase price can now attract noticeably more tax than it did a year ago.