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Stamp Duty replacement tax puts brake on high-end Scottish property price growth

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  • 04/01/2016
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Stamp Duty replacement tax puts brake on high-end Scottish property price growth
Prime property prices in Edinburgh fell by 0.5% in the last quarter of 2015, largely due to the introduction of a new property tax which replaced Stamp Duty in Scotland in April last year.

The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is acting as the primary brake on the top end of the market, as the level of tax paid for sales between £500,000 and £1m is on average 76% higher than the equivalent level of Stamp Duty, according to property consultant Knight Frank.

However, the amount of flats sold below £500,000 in the city centre leapt by 33% compared to 2014.

The amount of sales in properties worth £1m and above in Scotland registered in the third quarter of the year saw a 43% drop compared to the same period 2014, with Edinburgh accounting for 33% of the sales.

Just like the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement, the Scottish government has also proposed an additional 3% LBTT surcharge on the purchase of second homes, such as buy-to-lets and second homes.

Annual price growth in Edinburgh fell to 1.5%, down from 4.2% in 2014.

Edward Douglas-Home, head of Edinburgh City Sales, said: “There is little doubt that the introduction of LBTT has slowed the longer term recovery of the prime market in Edinburgh. However, demand for well-located flats and properties valued up to £500,000 remains relatively unaffected by the change.”

Scottish prime property prices remained largely the same across the year, increasing by a modest 0.1% in 2015. In comparison, prices grew by 2.1% in 2014.

The marginal growth is also due to LBTT, as the top end of the market is still adjusting to new purchase taxes as much as 90% higher than under the previous Stamp Duty system, according to the estate agent.

The property consultant expects the prime Scottish market to remain subdued this year, but said changes to LBTT could result in a short-term boost in activity.

It also suggests Edinburgh could see a spike in transactions between now and the end of March as buyers try to minimise their tax burden from the proposed surcharge on additional homes.

 

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