A UK housebuilder says stamp duty is slowing home purchases as some buyers delay moves until after the Budget. Berkeley Group warns that the market slowdown reduces overall tax receipts by suppressing transaction activity.
Berkeley Group cites an HMRC assessment, arguing that the loss of revenue from lower levels of activity outweighs the gains from stamp duty on new build homes. The warning is framed around the wider impact on the housing market rather than changes to stamp duty rates themselves.
Across the outlet’s reporting, the central focus is the same: stamp duty (SDLT) and related costs are described as creating hesitation among buyers. The emphasis differs mainly in wording and presentation, but both accounts attribute the claims to Berkeley Group and reference HMRC’s assessment on revenue effects.
