Lifeline for Harborne House Buyers & Harborne First-time Buyers

Lifeline for Harborne House Buyers & Harborne First-time Buyers

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has stated the Stamp Duty Holiday for Harborne properties up to £500,000 will be extended from 31st March 2021 to the 30th June 2021; and to ensure we don’t have a cliff edge, from 1st July 2021, the Stamp Duty Holiday will apply only on properties up to £250,000 until the end of September 2021

From the 1st October 2021 Stamp Duty thresholds and levels will return to pre-pandemic levels.
 
To help Harborne first-time buyers, the Chancellor confirmed that there will be Government guaranteed 95% mortgages available from April, on the purchase of properties up to the value of £600,000. This means Harborne first times buyers will be able to buy their first home with just a 5% deposit.
 
Harborne Landlords will also be pleased there was no statement on Capital Gains Tax, although this will have to be addressed in the years to come.
 
Harborne tenants, those hardest hit with unemployment and job uncertainty, will also be pleased to hear that the Furlough Scheme will be extended to the 30th September 2021.
 
It is my intention to publish a greater in-depth article early/mid next week to discuss these topics and what it actually means at a more granular level for Harborne homeowners, Harborne property buyers, Harborne tenants and Harborne landlords.
 


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The UK property market is entering a new phase—one defined not by urgency, but by choice. For estate agents, sellers, and landlords alike, the landscape is shifting, bringing both challenges and opportunities in equal measure.

The UK housing market continued to shift in favour of buyers throughout May, as transaction levels softened slightly and supply continued to outweigh demand in many areas. While headlines may focus on small percentage changes, the underlying story is far more significant.

In May 2026, pricing strategy matters more than ever. With more homes on the market and buyers watching affordability closely, setting the right asking price can make all the difference to your next move.

Stamp Duty is one of the biggest reasons the UK property market has slowed, restricting movement and causing deals to fall through. Research shows removing this outdated tax—especially for property traders—could dramatically boost transactions and help get the market moving again.