Short answer: in England, first-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) up to £300,000 and 5% on the part of the price between £300,001 and £500,000. If the home costs more than £500,000, the relief is lost and the standard rates apply to the whole price. This guide shows the sums. It is general information, not tax advice.
The rules in brief
According to GOV.UK on 13 October 2026:
- You can claim first-time buyer relief if you and anyone you are buying with are all first-time buyers.
- There is no SDLT up to £300,000.
- There is 5% SDLT on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000.
- If the price is over £500,000, you cannot claim the relief.
The standard rates for a single home are 0% up to £125,000, 2% from £125,001 to £250,000, 5% from £250,001 to £925,000, 10% from £925,001 to £1.5 million and 12% above that. Tax is charged band by band, not on the whole price at one rate.
Worked examples for England
| Price of the home | Standard rates | First-time buyer relief | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| £200,000 | £1,500 | £0 | £1,500 |
| £300,000 | £5,000 | £0 | £5,000 |
| £350,000 | £7,500 | £2,500 | £5,000 |
| £400,000 | £10,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| £450,000 | £12,500 | £7,500 | £5,000 |
| £500,000 | £15,000 | £10,000 | £5,000 |
| £510,000 | £15,500 | £15,500 (relief lost) | £0 |
How to read the £400,000 row: with the relief, nothing is due on the first £300,000, and 5% of the remaining £100,000 is £5,000. At the standard rates the same home costs £10,000, so the relief saves £5,000.
The £500,000 cliff
The relief stops completely above £500,000. A £500,000 home costs £10,000 in SDLT with the relief, but a £510,000 home costs £15,500, because the standard rates then apply to the whole price. If you are close to the cap, speak to your solicitor before you agree a price.
Other costs on top of Stamp Duty
SDLT is one of several costs of moving. Budget for solicitor and survey fees, your removals and packing, and the small bills that arrive in the first month. Our guides to the cost of moving house in the UK and the UK house moving checklist cover them, and Stamp Duty when downsizing explains how the standard rates and the additional-property surcharge work if you are selling a home.
Where Chayce fits
Chayce Properties is a moving and relocation service based in Northampton and arranging moves across the UK. Our service is designed with older people in mind and is open to anyone, including first-time buyers. Bronze Essentials, £995, covers packing, an insured removal, furniture reassembly and light cleaning. If you want help planning, a Discovery Consultation, £150, gives you a move plan, timeline and budget. We are not tax advisers. For your own SDLT calculation, speak to your solicitor or use the calculator on GOV.UK. To talk about your move, get in touch.
Rates, thresholds and rules change. This article is general information, not tax or legal advice.
