Stamp duty reform 'a boost for portfolios'
Thursday, 24 March 2011 10:36 AM
Reforms to stamp duty announced in yesterday's Budget speech have been welcomed by professional property organisations.
Chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne revealed a change in the way stamp duty will be calculated for people buying more than one home at a time.
The tax will now be based on the average cost of the homes (rather than being calculated separately for each), which could help to balance the amount paid for portfolios with properties of different sizes.
Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the British Property Federation, said the change is impressive – and follows a lengthy campaign for reform from the federation itself.
He added: "It will provide an important boost for the private rented sector and, we hope, will tip the balance in encouraging institutional funds into building homes."
The National Landlords Association was similarly pleased with the new rules, which it said will "reduce the barriers" currently faced when investing in property.
As well as helping landlords to buy more properties, the association added that this will have a positive knock-on effect, as more privately rented homes should come on to the market as a result.
With growing demand for this and a history of landlords feeling unfairly treated by the stamp duty regime, chairman David Salusbury praised the government for listening to the industry's concerns on the issue.
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Tags:
- budget ,
- buy to let ,
- investment ,
- landlords ,
- letting ,
- renting ,
- stamp duty




