Tax thresholds are set to change at the end of this month (Image: Getty)
are rushing to get purchase deals over the line before property tax changes kick in, data has suggested. Currently, purchasers of homes worth less than £250,000 do not have to pay any . The threshold is £425,000 for people buying their first house. Meanwhile, the maximum price for which a reduced stamp duty rate is applied to purchases of first homes is £650,000.
But, from March 31, these thresholds will be lowered to what they were before – from £250,000 to £125,000 for people who have bought a home before, and from £425,000 to £300,000 for first-time buyers. In addition, it will decrease from £625,000 to £500,000 for first time buyers relief. A law firm has said that it has seen a 94% increase in conveyancing instructions – the point when a buyer moves forward with the purchase agreement of a property – compared to last year.
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Stamp duty thresholds are due to change (Image: Getty)
Taylor Rose, which has offices in the east, north west, south east and south west of England and in London, received 5,297 in January and February 2025.
The total was 2,738 in the same period in 2024.
Hannah Wright, Head of New Business at Taylor Rose, said: “With the change to the stamp duty threshold coming at the end of the month, coupled with positive reports around falling rates and reduction in levels, we are seeing a very positive response in the market with a significant increase in client instructions.
“We have seen a spike in sellers coming to the market, often after months of deciding whether to list their homes or not, and, naturally, with more stock coming onto the market, this breeds more buyers.
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Rachel Reeves announced threshold changes last year (Image: Getty)
“Positive sentiment around the market and the reduction of will have had an impact.
“After a restricted few years, home sellers are acting to secure approvals, and solicitors are working around the clock to ensure completions can take place before the end of March.
“But even after the threshold changes, we predict that demand will remain high as we move into spring, and we expect a very busy period for the conveyancing sector.”