For much of this year, speculation about Stamp Duty has hung over the property market like a cloud that wouldn’t quite clear. Would the thresholds change again? Would sellers, rather than buyers, end up footing the bill? Would first-time buyers see any relief?
We now have an answer, and it’s a straightforward one: Stamp Duty isn’t changing.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office on 20th July 2026, has ruled out any changes to Stamp Duty in the upcoming Autumn Budget, due to be delivered by Chancellor John Healey on 28th October. Council Tax has also been left off the table. For a market that’s spent months bracing for reform, that’s welcome news.
Here’s what the confirmation means for Stamp Duty for home buyers, whether you’re buying, selling, or simply keeping an eye on your next move.
What was confirmed, and why it matters?
Talk of Stamp Duty reform had been building for months, as speculation about the Autumn Budget 2026 grew over the summer. Industry voices, including analysts at Rightmove, had also been calling for a rethink of the bandings, pointing to how few homes in high-priced areas like London now qualify for full first-time buyer relief.
With the Government now ruling out changes for this Budget, that uncertainty has lifted. Buyers and sellers can plan a purchase or a move without the tax bill shifting beneath them partway through.
Rightmove data shows buyer demand rose by around 5% in the weeks immediately following the Prime Minister’s appointment on 20th July.
A reminder of where Stamp Duty currently stands
Since nothing is changing, it’s worth being clear on the rules as they stand today for buyers in England and Northern Ireland.
Standard residential rates (for buyers who already own a home, or are buying their only property):
- 0% up to £125,000
- 2% on the portion from £125,001 to £250,000
- 5% on the portion from £250,001 to £925,000
- 10% on the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million
- 12% on anything above £1.5 million
First-time buyer relief:
- 0% up to £300,000
- 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000
- No relief is available above £500,000; standard rates apply instead
Additional properties, such as buy-to-let purchases or second homes, attract a further 5% surcharge on top of the standard rates. Buyers who aren’t UK residents typically pay an additional 2% on top of that.
None of this is new, but with reform ruled out for this Budget, it’s a useful moment for anyone weighing up a purchase to run the numbers with confidence.
What this means for first-time buyers in the UK?
For first-time buyers in the UK, particularly those in and around London, the maths hasn’t got any easier. Rightmove estimates that fewer than one in ten homes on the market in London are priced low enough to qualify for full first-time buyer relief, compared with a far higher share in other parts of the country.
Knowing the rules won’t move again this year is still useful. A first-time buyer working towards a purchase in the coming months can budget their Stamp Duty liability precisely, rather than building in a margin for a possible rate change.
What it means for east London homeowners and movers?
For east London homeowners weighing up their next move, the wider London market is useful context. Rightmove has reported that the number of sales agreed across the country in the first half of 2026 held broadly in line with 2024 levels, and that nearly three-quarters of homes that have sold so far in 2026 did so without needing an asking price reduction.
London also recorded the widest choice of homes on the market since 2010 in August, which is good news for anyone in Ilford or Newbury Park looking to buy. For sellers, that same increase in choice makes accurate, well-informed pricing more valuable than ever, since well-priced homes are typically the ones that attract offers fastest.
Settled Stamp Duty rules add a further layer of certainty. For anyone trading up, downsizing, or relocating within the borough, knowing the tax bill won’t move again this year makes it easier to plan a budget alongside mortgage rates, which remain the more changeable factor, currently averaging 5.09% for a two-year fixed deal. Our letting agents in Ilford and letting agents in Newbury Park are on hand to talk through what it means for your specific move, and to help you price confidently in a market where buyers have plenty to compare against.
It’s too early to say whether this confirmation will have a lasting effect on the wider market, but the sales resilience and demand uptick already mentioned are encouraging early signs, especially given a difficult first half of the year affected by wider economic uncertainty.
Making an informed decision
If you’ve been holding off on a purchase or a move while waiting to see what the Budget might bring, that particular reason to wait has now gone. With the rules confirmed, it’s worth:
- Getting a clear, up-to-date figure for your likely Stamp Duty liability using HMRC’s official calculator
- Speaking to a mortgage adviser about current rates, given they remain more volatile than the tax rules
- Getting a realistic valuation if you’re selling, given how much choice buyers currently have
- Factoring Stamp Duty into your budget as a fixed cost rather than a moving target
Stamp Duty rules can still change in future Budgets, and the broader debate about reforming or replacing the tax hasn’t gone away. But for anyone planning a move in the months immediately ahead, this confirmation gives you one less thing to worry about.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer taking your first step onto the ladder, an east London homeowner planning your next move, or an investor weighing up the numbers, our friendly sales and lettings teams are on hand to help. Get in touch with our estate agents in Ilford or our estate agents in Newbury Park to talk through your options.
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