Second Home Stamp Duty Calculator
Buying a second home attracts a 5% surcharge on every standard SDLT band, as long as you still own your existing main residence on the day of completion.
Avoiding the surcharge when moving home
If the new property is replacing your main residence and both transactions complete on the same day, no surcharge is due. If there is any overlap, even briefly, the surcharge is charged at completion and reclaimed when the old home sells, provided the sale happens within 36 months. See the additional property guide for the refund mechanics.
Frequently asked
- When am I replacing my main residence rather than buying a second home?
- If you complete the sale of your previous main residence on the same day as buying the new one, you are replacing your main residence and the surcharge does not apply. If there is any overlap in ownership the surcharge applies, but you can reclaim it if you sell the previous home within 36 months.
- Can a married couple have two main residences?
- No. For SDLT a married couple or civil partnership are treated as a single unit. They can only have one main residence between them, regardless of how the homes are owned.
- What if I am buying my first second home and have never owned property before?
- If you do not own any other residential property worth more than £40,000 the surcharge does not apply. In that scenario you are buying a single property and may even qualify for first-time buyer relief if eligible.