Mortgage News
Keystone issues priority deadline for applications to avoid Stamp Duty levy
Keystone Buy to Let Mortgages is calling on brokers to submit their clients’ purchase applications to ensure cases complete before the 3% Stamp Duty surcharge is implemented from 1 April.
The lender explained that it could not guarantee all purchase cases will complete before 1 April but said it will prioritise applications that are submitted by 29 January.
From tomorrow there are 86 days to go until the higher rate of Stamp Duty comes into effect. According to Keystone, it takes an industry average of 95 days to take a case from start to completion.
David Whittaker, managing director of Keystone (pictured), said the lender has been preparing for an increase in applications since the surcharge was announced.
“We have also been working closely with our valuers and solicitors to ensure that they too are prepared for what we anticipate will be a very busy period,” he said.
“Getting purchase applications over the line before 1 April is our priority. It will save borrowers thousands of pounds. The deadline will give us a little over eight weeks to take cases from submission to completion. In most instances, that will be do-able – even for limited company applications which, because they require a greater underwriting skillset, can take longer to process.”
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