First-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland get significant stamp duty relief in 2026. If your property costs £300,000 or less, you pay zero stamp duty. For properties between £300,001 and £500,000, you pay just 5% on the amount above £300,000.
The rates changed on 1 April 2025 when temporary relief ended. The nil-rate threshold dropped from £425,000 back to £300,000, and the maximum property price for FTB relief reduced from £625,000 to £500,000.
Here are worked examples. On a £250,000 property, a first-time buyer pays zero stamp duty while a home mover pays £2,500. On a £350,000 property, a first-time buyer pays £2,500 (5% on £50,000 above the threshold) while a home mover pays £5,000. On a £450,000 property, a first-time buyer pays £7,500 while a home mover pays £10,000.
If the property costs more than £500,000, first-time buyer relief is not available and you pay the standard rates. This is a cliff edge that catches many buyers in London and the South East.
To qualify for first-time buyer relief, you and anyone you are buying with must never have owned a property or a share of a property anywhere in the world. This includes inherited property and buy-to-let investments. If one buyer qualifies but the other does not, the relief is lost for the entire purchase.
Your solicitor will normally claim the relief automatically when filing your SDLT return, but you should check this has been done correctly on your completion statement.
Use our stamp duty calculator to see exactly what you will pay on any property price.