Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

When your former-home share may be ignored

A court order after divorce or civil partnership dissolution can mean your retained share in the old family home does not count for the SDLT higher-rates test.

The order must be a qualifying property adjustment order.
Your former partner must use the home as their only or main home.
You must not use it as your only or main home.

Scroll down for the full analysis.

Need an indemnified letter of advice? Email me your situation — my initial assessment is always free. If a formal letter is needed, fixed fee from £350, no VAT.

✉️ [email protected]

Insured by Markel International (up to £250k per claim). Learn more →

Read the original guidance here:

Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

Guidance Image

Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

If you buy a new home after divorce or the end of a civil partnership, a share in the old family home may not count against you for stamp duty. This can prevent the extra stamp duty charge for owning another home. But the result depends on a court order and who lives in the former home.

What this rule is about

Most people assume that keeping any share in the old home means they own two homes. For the SDLT higher-rates test, that is not always right.

Condition C considers homes owned at purchase. A retained share in a former family home can therefore matter, even if your former partner lives there and you have moved out.

There is a special exception for relationship breakdown. It can treat you as not having that retained share.

That distinction can decide whether the extra stamp duty charge applies.

What the official source says

The law can ignore a person’s share in a former home where a qualifying property adjustment order benefits the other person. Three conditions must all be met.

You still have a major interest, meaning a qualifying ownership share, in the former home.
A qualifying court order deals with that share for the benefit of your former spouse or civil partner.
The former home is that other person’s only or main home, not yours.

Higher-rates rules then ignore that share. It is not merely a discount or a partial exemption.

The legislation lists court orders made during divorce or civil partnership proceedings. It also covers corresponding orders after certain overseas proceedings and specified Northern Ireland orders.

An order in matrimonial proceedings can qualify.
An order after an overseas divorce can qualify if it corresponds to the listed type.
A Northern Ireland divorce-related order can qualify.
Orders connected with ending, or certain overseas endings of, a civil partnership can qualify.

HMRC’s manual also says a consent order can satisfy the test if it covers matters that would otherwise be dealt with by a property adjustment order. That is HMRC’s published view, not separate wording in the SDLT legislation.

What this means in practice

You may be able to buy a home to live in without your retained share in the old family home causing the higher rates. The exception is aimed at the common situation where one former partner remains in the home, often with children, while the other needs somewhere else to live.

Do not stop at the fact that you are separated. Separation by itself does not meet this exception. The court order and the living arrangements matter.

Check whether there is a sealed court order, rather than only an informal agreement.
Read what the order actually says about ownership and occupation.
Check who uses the former home as their main home when you buy.
Check that you do not also use that property as your main home.
Other property interests may still count. This exception removes only this interest.

If your solicitor has said the higher rates apply because you remain named on the old home, this is the part to check. Being on the title does not necessarily end the question.

How to analyse it

Begin with the former home. Then review the documents and facts in order. The name of a document is less important than what it is legally and what it does.

Did you buy the new home on or after 22 November 2017?
Do you still have an ownership share in the former home?
Is there a court order affecting that share?
Is it one of the order types listed in the law, or a consent order that makes the same type of property arrangement?
Was the order made for the benefit of your former spouse or civil partner?
Is the former home their only or main home?
Is it no longer your only or main home?
After ignoring that share, do any other facts still bring the purchase within the higher-rates rules?

Keep copies of the order and evidence of where each person lives. Those facts support the answer; a simple statement that the relationship ended does not.

Example

Rachael and Michaela end their civil partnership. A court order lets Rachael remain in their former home until their youngest child reaches 18, unless Rachael marries or enters a new civil partnership. Michaela keeps a share in that home but later buys a new home to live in.

Rachael uses the former home as her main home. Michaela does not. On those facts, the retained share is ignored for the higher-rates test under this exception. The result still depends on the other parts of the SDLT test, including any other property Michaela owns.

Now change one fact: Michaela also treats the former home as her main home. The exception’s main-home condition would not be met. The stamp duty result remains open. This exception cannot simply be assumed.

Why this can be difficult in practice

The hard part is often paperwork. Couples may agree who stays in the home long before a court order is made. A private agreement may be important in family law, but it is not one of the listed orders in the SDLT provision.

Consent orders need care too. HMRC accepts that one can qualify where it covers matters otherwise dealt with by a property adjustment order. The legislation itself defines the relevant orders by reference to specified legal powers. Check the order’s basis and wording.

Do not assume that divorce alone makes a former-home share disappear.
Do not assume that an unsigned or informal agreement is enough.
Do not confuse moving out with proving the other person has their main home there.
Do not overlook another property interest which may still affect the higher-rates test.
Do not treat HMRC’s statement about consent orders as a replacement for reading the order.

Key takeaways

A qualifying court order can make a retained former-home share irrelevant for the SDLT higher-rates test.
The former home must be your former partner’s main home and not yours.
A consent order may qualify on HMRC’s view, but its legal basis and wording matter.

Technical analysis

For advisers, and for anyone who wants to check the law behind this page. You do not need this section to understand the guidance above.

Legislation

FA 2003 Schedule 4ZA para 3 — when another home can trigger the higher rates
FA 2003 Schedule 4ZA para 9B — ignoring a former-home share after relationship breakdown
an Act of 1973 we do not have an identifier for section 24 — property orders during matrimonial proceedings (no link: an Act of 1973 we do not have an identifier for)
an Act of 1984 we do not have an identifier for section 17 — property orders after an overseas divorce (no link: an Act of 1984 we do not have an identifier for)
Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 art.26(1)(b) — property orders in Northern Ireland divorce proceedings (could not parse a provision)
Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 art.21(a)(ii) — property orders after overseas Northern Ireland divorce (could not parse a provision)
an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 5 para 7 — property orders on civil partnership dissolution (no link: an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for)
an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 15 para 7 — property orders on civil partnership nullity (no link: an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for)
an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 7 para 9 — property orders after overseas civil partnership dissolution (no link: an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for)
an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 17 para 9 — property orders after overseas civil partnership nullity (no link: an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for)

Official guidance

The pages below are HMRC’s guidance. Guidance is not law. It sets out how HMRC reads the legislation, and it is not binding on you, on a tribunal or on a court. Where guidance and the legislation differ, the legislation wins. HMRC can also change or withdraw guidance, and it may not cover your facts.

Where this is not settled

The legislation does not use the phrase ‘consent order’. Whether a particular consent order is an order within paragraph 9B depends on its legal basis and terms.
Whether either person treats the former home as their only or main residence is fact-sensitive.

Evidence you would need

This kind of case is decided on the facts of the individual property. These are the records that usually settle it, and the ones an adviser would ask you for.

The sealed court order or consent order
The part of the order dealing with the former home
Evidence of who lives in the former home
Evidence that the buyer does not live there as their main home
The date of the new home purchase

Explore this with an AI

An AI will give you plenty of information. It will not take responsibility for any of it. When a conveyancing solicitor asks for professional tax advice, responsibility is what they are really asking for: a named adviser who has looked at your facts and carries indemnity insurance for the view they reach.

Email me your circumstances and I will give you my honest opinion, free. About half the time that is the end of it. If your solicitor wants it in writing, a formal letter of advice starts at £350, no VAT.

If it helped and you never need the letter, a Google review or a charity donation is welcome. Never expected.

Email me about your situation[email protected]

Nick Garner

Readers often want to test their own situation. Copy the prompt below into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. It hands the model the actual legislation for this page rather than letting it answer from memory, and tells it to be explicit about what is uncertain. What comes back is information, not advice – check it against the links above.

I am researching UK Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), which applies in England and Northern Ireland.

MY QUESTION
Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

[Replace this with your own situation: what you are buying, the price,
the dates, who the buyer is, and what you plan to do with the property.]

THE LAW THIS TURNS ON
- FA 2003 Schedule 4ZA para 3 - when another home can trigger the higher rates
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/14/schedule/4ZA/paragraph/3/2025-11-17
- FA 2003 Schedule 4ZA para 9B - ignoring a former-home share after relationship breakdown
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/14/schedule/4ZA/paragraph/9B/2025-11-17
- an Act of 1973 we do not have an identifier for section 24 - property orders during matrimonial proceedings
- an Act of 1984 we do not have an identifier for section 17 - property orders after an overseas divorce
- an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 5 para 7 - property orders on civil partnership dissolution
- an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 15 para 7 - property orders on civil partnership nullity
- an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 7 para 9 - property orders after overseas civil partnership dissolution
- an Act of 2004 we do not have an identifier for Schedule 17 para 9 - property orders after overseas civil partnership nullity

Guidance page from HMRC on this topic (guidance, not law):
https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/stamp-duty-land-tax-manual/sdltm09797

HOW I WANT YOU TO ANSWER
1. Work from the legislation above. Read it before answering.
Guidance from HMRC is its view of the law, not the
law, and does not bind a tribunal or a court.
2. Tell me what the rule actually requires, in plain English.
3. Tell me which facts decide the answer, and which facts would change it.
4. Tell me what evidence I would need to support the position.
5. Be explicit about anything unsettled or fact-sensitive. Do not guess.
6. Your training data has a cutoff and SDLT rates and reliefs change at
fiscal events. Say so if you are not sure the law is current.

POINTS ALREADY KNOWN TO BE UNCERTAIN ON THIS TOPIC
- The legislation does not use the phrase 'consent order'. Whether a particular consent order is an order within paragraph 9B depends on its legal basis and terms.
- Whether either person treats the former home as their only or main residence is fact-sensitive.

Do not give me a conclusion you cannot support from the provisions above.

Legislation links show Finance Act 2003 as it stood on 2025-11-17. The law may have changed since, and the rules that apply are those in force on the date of your transaction. The official guidance this page is based on is here.

This page was last updated on 31 August 2026

Useful article? You may find it helpful to read the original guidance here: Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

View all HMRC SDLT Guidance Pages Here

Search Land Tax Advice with Google

What people say

Most of these Google reviews are from people who emailed me a question and got a helpful written answer. That is step 1 below, and it is genuinely free.

Land Tax Advice (Stamp Duty Advice Bureau)

5.0

Based on 285 reviews

review us on

£350
NO VAT
— Indemnified Letter of Advice

Fixed fee £350 for most letters. Complex cases up to £1,250 — always quoted in advance. Insured by Markel International up to £250,000 per claim.

Conveyancer holding things up until they have written SDLT advice? I’ll provide a formal, insured opinion from an HMRC-registered tax agent so they can proceed.

How it works

Email me the details of your situation. I’ll reply in writing — free of charge — with a clear explanation of your legal position.

You decide whether that’s enough. Often the free email is all you need — you can forward it to your solicitor for their own assessment.

If a formal letter is needed, we go from there. I’ll quote you a fixed fee before any paid work begins.

Start with step 1. No commitment, no cost — just email me your situation and I’ll clarify the legal position.

✉️ Email: [email protected]

Replies usually the same working day. Nick Garner, HMRC-registered tax agent.

Great Feedback!

Mel N

2 weeks ago

Nick was fantastic to work with. I had a complicated SDLT question and he took the time to properly understand the details before giving his view. His explanations were clear, thorough, and easy to follow even on quite technical points. Would highly recommend for anyone needing land tax advice on a non-standard situation.

stevesimmance

3 weeks ago

Nick was really helpful; clear in his timely communications and gave candid yet entirely fair and empathetic feedback on my SDLT tax matter.... exactly as i had hoped for, he is way ahead of his competition in this regard! thoroughly recommended

Lei Wang

I am extremely grateful for the professional advice and support I received. I contacted Nick regarding a particularly complex SDLT matter and was very impressed by how knowledgeable, approachable and helpful he was. He took the time to understand the circumstances, carefully considered the information provided, and gave clear and practical advice on how best to proceed. It is not often that you come across someone who is so willing to share their expertise and genuinely help others. His advice gave me much greater confidence in dealing with the matter. I would highly recommend Nick to anyone looking for someone knowledgeable, professional and genuinely helpful. Thank you again for your time and kindness!

Kate Phillips

Nick was exceptionally helpful; very quick to respond with specific, clear and informed advice and very generous with his time and expertise. Thank you!

Wendy Baines

★★★★★ Nick was incredibly helpful in advising me on a complicated and time-sensitive SDLT issue. His responses were exceptionally prompt, clear and thorough, and he took the time to understand my individual circumstances before giving me a clear answer. I particularly appreciated that he looked at all the possible options while being completely upfront about what was and wasn’t sensible in my situation. He even advised me not to incur the cost of formal advice unless my solicitor actually required it. Professional, knowledgeable, generous with his time and genuinely helpful. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nick.

800 Lee

4 weeks ago

I’m very grateful for Nick’s professional and detailed advice regarding our SDLT situation. Our circumstances were quite specific and involved a previous main residence overseas and a separate rental property, so we wanted to make sure the SDLT treatment was correct. Nick took the time to carefully review the facts, explain the relevant points clearly, and provide a thorough and professional assessment. His advice gave us much more confidence about our property purchase and our SDLT position. He was also very responsive, helpful and reassuring throughout the process. I would highly recommend Nick to anyone who needs professional SDLT advice. Excellent service and very much appreciated!

Luc

2 months ago

Nick was so fast at responding to my query. He was very polite and very informative. Although the outcome was not what we had hoped for, the advice that Nick provided was invaluable. Nick provided advice that 5 other professionals could not. I am very grateful for his help and the clarity that he gave me. Would 100% recommend. Thank you again!

Tommy Liu

3 months ago

This is the best service I have ever used in the UK. Nick and his team were professional, friendly, responsive, and worked on a no win, no fee basis, with very reasonable fees. I contacted more than 10 tax advisers that I found on Google, and Nick was the first to respond. His reply was prompt, highly professional, and answered exactly what I was looking for. They submitted our SDLT refund claim on 4 June 2026, and we received the repayment on 10 July 2026. The whole process was smooth, efficient, and completely hassle-free. I would highly recommend Nick and his team to anyone looking for tax advice or help with an SDLT refund. Excellent service from start to finish. Well done!

Panos Zanelis

I contacted Nick for guidance on a complex SDLT issue involving the transfer of a residential property to a limited company and the related implications for a new home purchase. The response I received was exceptionally detailed, clear and practical. The advice carefully explained the relevant SDLT principles, including connected-party transfers, market-value requirements, valuation evidence, the potential corporate rate and the importance of timing between transactions. What I particularly appreciated was the balanced and careful way the information was presented. It helped me understand the key risks and the practical next steps to discuss with my solicitor. The guidance was extremely useful, clearly written and provided with real care and professionalism. I am especially grateful that such a thorough initial assessment was provided free of charge. I would highly recommend their services to anyone needing specialist SDLT advice.

Karina Spiess

We would like to highly recommend Mr. Garner for his outstanding service. From start to finish, he was absolutely professional, honest, and incredibly thorough in explaining every detail. He took the time to answer all of our questions with patience and clarity. His commitment, attention to detail, and genuine willingness to help really stood out. It's rare to come across someone so dedicated to providing excellent service. We truly appreciate all of his support and would not hesitate to recommend Mr. Garner to anyone looking for knowledgeable, trustworthy, and professional assistance.

Maroua Mkacher

4 months ago

Nick provided an exceptionally detailed and thoughtful assessment of a very technical SDLT issue relating to property trader relief. His explanation was clear, balanced and extremely helpful, particularly around the distinction between refurbishment, repair works and minimum safety works. What I appreciated most was the level of care and nuance in the analysis rather than giving a simplistic answer, he carefully explained both the opportunities and the risks, as well as the practical evidential considerations involved. The response was comprehensive, commercially aware and easy to understand despite the complexity of the legislation. I would highly recommend Nick to anyone dealing with complex SDLT matters or property tax issues.

francesco marra

5 months ago

I contacted Nick regarding a particularly complex SDLT issue involving overseas property ownership and higher rate SDLT implications. Unlike many other professionals I approached, who either ignored my enquiry or refused to provide any meaningful guidance because of the international aspects involved, Nick took the time to reply in detail and explain the position very clearly and professionally. His response was thorough, balanced and extremely helpful in understanding the relevant legal and practical issues before proceeding with a property purchase in London.

Yathorshan Shanthakumaran

We were really struggling to find clear advice regarding Stamp Duty and were so relieved to come across Nick. His advice was professional, thorough, and explained in simple layman’s terms that made everything much easier to understand. What really stood out was that several solicitors we approached were either unwilling to give proper advice or would only provide rough figures for how much Stamp Duty we might have to pay, without fully exploring the legislation or our circumstances. Nick took the time to carefully look into the details and explain everything clearly and confidently. We are extremely grateful for his help and would highly recommend him to anyone needing reliable and knowledgeable Stamp Duty advice. 5 out of 5 stars from us both.

Katy Muammar

We are extremely grateful to Nick Garner for his outstanding help and professionalism. After other companies were unable to assist us or recover what we were entitled to, Nick handled everything with confidence, knowledge, and great attention to detail — and successfully secured the return we deserved. Despite being based in the UK while we are in Sweden, the entire process was impressively smooth. Within just a few emails, everything was clearly explained and efficiently resolved. Nick is highly professional, reliable, and truly dedicated to achieving the best outcome for his clients. We couldn’t recommend him more highly. SHADI J

Donka Dimitrova

7 months ago

I would like to thank Nick for the prompt and thorough responce he gave to my query. I must admit I was quite sceptical and at first I thought that the free email advise offered on the web site might well just be some sort of a bait to get you go with the paid service. I was so pleasantly surprised when I recieved a most prompt and exhaustive responce to my question. It is so refreshing to see that there are still people out there providing a highly professional pro-bono service! I cannot recommend this enough! Thanks you Nick.

Andy Morse

Outstanding. It's easy to be slightly dubious about contacting any expert online for advice and I had a reasonably complex Stamp Duty refund question but not only did Nick come back to me within 24 hours but he also provided with the information that fully answered my query without necessarily leading me into further communication. Highly recommended for both his customer care and for his expertise.

JBTQY

Nick was superb He gave me a detailed, very clear and explanation of the SDLT situation involving the higher rates surcharge. he detailed the legislation, and reasons why I had no options – far more thorough than I expected. Knowledgeable, patient and genuinely helpful. Thank you, Nick – Ill recommend you to anyone dealing with stamp duty questions!

Ricky Puri

Nick is an exceptional professional — knowledgeable, honest, and highly competent. He answered my SDLT question in comprehensive detail, clearly explaining how the relevant legislation works and how it applies in practice. It’s rare to find someone who goes above and beyond to deliver such a high standard of service. Once again, thank you, Nick.

subash vanga

8 months ago

Nick was outstanding! He gave me an extremely detailed, clear and professional explanation of a tricky SDLT situation involving first-time buyer relief, higher rates surcharge and married couple rules. He cited the exact legislation, provided calculations, and outlined practical options – far more thorough than I expected. Highly knowledgeable, patient and genuinely helpful. Thank you, Nick – I’d recommend you to anyone dealing with stamp duty questions!

Zoe Shuker

Nick was fantastic - we highly recommend him! We couldn't believe how quickly he responded to us and it explained the matter with such clarity and detail which helped us understand our position and greatly reduced our stressed! We can't thank Nick enough!

P Boyapati

Excellent specialist advice from Nick. Who is knowledgeable, responsive, and very clear in explaining the practical risks around a mixed-use SDLT position. His guidance was thorough and realistic, which was greatly appreciated. I would confidently recommend him to others dealing with complex property tax matters.

Stevie Jacob

Nick is brilliant! He is always on hand to help and his advice is always sound and honest. As a business we have over 300 investor clients and if I ever had a stamp duty query he is the only person I would recommend. Thank you Nick for your continued support and efforts

nati azar

9 months ago

I am extremely impressed with the knowledge and level of service Nick provided—I truly can’t thank him enough for the excellent job he did. Nick advised me on SDLT where a limited company was purchasing a probate property, an area where most solicitors were unable to help. His expertise made a real difference. Thank you again.

Jacks J

Nick Garner is outstanding. I contacted him with a complex SDLT question relating to a trustee purchase under a life-interest trust, and he responded quickly with a clear, structured explanation supported by the relevant legislation. He set out the correct SDLT treatment and provided a precise calculation that removed all ambiguity for my conveyancer. Calm, highly knowledgeable and incredibly helpful. If you need SDLT advice from someone who truly understands the detail, Nick is the person to speak to.

James Harrington

Nick has been extremely, quick, clear and helpful with his advice and the full and rounded understanding of the situation, giving both sides of what can happen. He has built trust in his experience and we were very happy with his services. I would recommend Nick to and LTA to anyone going forwards.

Mike Simmons

Nick has been fantastically helpful. We are buying our neighbour's garage & driveway, but we simply could find no definitive answers as to whether SDLT was payable on our purchase. Nick analysed our circumstances, provided written reasonings, then provided his conclusion. We cannot recommend Nick highly enough!

Florin Gheorghiu

Nick's prompt and clear response was invaluable - I was dealing with quite a specific edge case where I am the legal owner of a property abroad, but do not have any major interest in it, as my parents rent it out and make use of the money. The question was whether I would qualify for the SDLT first-time buy relief and whether the higher rates for SDLT apply to me. With such a specific case, I couldn't find any advice online and Nick's response gave me the confidence to proceed with our plans AND the practicalities of what documents I would need to show HMRC that my situation actually makes me a first-time buyer. Super clear and professional. Highly recommend and when we buy, I'll definitely use Nick's services for an indemnified letter. His free advice is genuinely valuable and NOT a way to get you to pay money for answers or to milk fees from you. Thanks Nick!

ivan fernandes

10 months ago

Had emailed Nick twice for some advice regarding stamp duty , the response was quick and well detailed . Did help me in taking the right course of action. Really found his advice to be very helpful

Craig Macura

Nick provided excellent, expert advice for my SDLT enquiry. His professionalism and ability to answer specific, complex questions was extremely valuable. Thank You.

Thanks again for the help from Nick and Martin. Very professional team who have been providing detail advices and analysis, clear fee quote too before we made decision on moving forward. The whole process has taken quite along time but we have been receieving frequent updates and follow-up actions by the team. Really appreciated the help again and highly recommended their services.

Jerome Hilario

Nick has been very helpful in all my queries surrounding SDLT and is extremely knowledgeable about the complexities of SDLT. I strongly recommend to use Nick for any land tax enquiries and am very much appreciative of the assistance and support he has given me

Mike D

Nick was very generous and knowledgeable in providing timely and accurate advice on an SDLT query I had re the "Rule of 6". He demonstrated a real subject matter expertise. I will strongly consider proceeding with Nick to assist further with the matter.

Farhana Shabbirdin

11 months ago

Nick was outstanding from the moment he answered my call. He was incredibly knowledgeable and even provided free guidance on our complex SDLT situation. I genuinely appreciate his time, effort, and kindness in taking time out of his busy schedule to help us. Truly grateful. Thank you so much!

James

We have had some questions about how the stamp duty (SDLT) is calculated. We sent an email to Mr Garner for his advice. He quickly responded with a detailed analysis of our situation and a clear guidance. Thanks very much!

Dionne Rooney

Nick was clear and answered my question in a day. I am very grateful that they were able to amass expert knowledge and share it. Such kindness helps the world go round. I will be sure to pass on my own skills to help others and make the donation to charity. Thank you so much!

Zk Ka

1 year ago

Nick was incredibly helpful in explaining a complex SDLT issue. He broke everything down clearly, walked me through the calculations and options, and made the whole situation much easier to understand. Even though the outcome wasn't quite what I hoped for, his advice has given me clarity on my next steps. Professional, knowledgeable and considerate - highly recommended!

Steve Mayers

Nick is knowledgeable, helpful, and kind. In a brief call he quickly identified the relevant information to answer our land tax query. Combining his knowledge of the UK guidelines, and relevant case law he answered our query quickly and with confidence. Thanks!

Monika Khera

Nick’s professional knowledge is truly commendable; complex SDLT issue was explained in such a simple language with precise reasons . It’s been an absolute pleasure knowing Nick. Highly recommend Nick.

ali shaik

I had an excellent experience with Nick. He took the time to give me a very detailed explanation, answered all of my questions thoroughly, and provided clear guidance that was easy to understand. His professionalism, patience, and support made a real difference, and I felt confident after our discussion. Highly recommended!

STEVEN SANDERS

I would like to say a big thank you to Nick for his extremely prompt response to my emailed enquiries in relation to both SDLT and LTT including higher rate. The information Nick has provided me with is very helpful and both concise and easy to understand and will allow me to confidently move forward with my personal situation regarding property. I greatly appreciate your time and effort and highly recommend your services, thanks very much again Nick!

Zidaan Ltd

I’m extremely grateful to Nick for their prompt and expert assistance in resolving my SDLT issue. They responded quickly, clearly understood the situation, and provided practical, accurate guidance that led to a smooth resolution. Their professionalism, knowledge of the process, and ability to act efficiently made what could have been a stressful experience feel completely manageable. It’s rare to find someone so responsive and effective — I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services to anyone dealing with property-related matters.

Debbie Stone

Nick helped us with a very detailed answer in support of our son Ollie's (first time buyer) 'equity share' house purchase, for which his solicitor had mis-calculated a higher rate of SDLT (on the market value rather than the purchase price). We were desperate for a detailed enough proof of calculation to satisfy the legal team and Nick's help has saved us. Our son could not have afforded the higher rate they had miscalculated. His work is invaluable as are the causes he supports

Luke Thomas

Nick was a massive help with Stamp Duty issues surrounding stair casing on my flat. My solicitor was certain the remaining percentage purchase of my flat resulted in me paying Stamp Duty of a few thousand pounds. Nicks professional knowledge and expertise outlined clauses of stamp duty where I was not required to pay stamp duty for stair-casing and based upon remaining percentage being purchased. This evidence was used to relay back to my solicitor who acknowledged there would be no further action required to pay stamp duty. This saved me a few thousand pounds. Nick is highly professional, reliable, takes interest into each clients needs. Would highly recommend and will use in the future.

Alun Thomas

I'm absolutely delighted to have found this website and to have been able to speak with Nick !! I have been trying to make sense of the legislation for some weeks now and Nick unravelled the knots that i've mentally made of our complicated situation. He patiently listened whilst I described the multiple aspects and then explained the related schedule to each element in such an easily understandable way, happily clarifying any aspect that I was unsure of. Nick then invited me to e mail him so that he could explain in writing and refer to the relevant legislation schedule. I recieved his reply so quickly and the information was presented stage by stage with such clarity that I now feel completely confident that I know which tax is due (and which isn't !!) I can't thank or recommend Nick enough for his remarkable service. It's a huge weight lifted !! and i'm ever so grateful.

ruba sodha

Nick called me within an hour of my contacting him. He was very thorough with understating what is a complex area of SDLT and researched the legislation in question. Very approachable. Thank you we really appreciate your help.

Sunil Kumara

Nick is the best tax consultant I’ve interacted with—he responded within minutes with a clear and concise answer. He’s approachable, easy to understand, and incredibly helpful. Thank you, Nick!

Frankie Johnson

Excellent service. Speedy responses to my questions from an extremely knowledgeable bloke. Would certainly recommend utilising his services.

stephanie beechey

Nick was very helpful on my query regarding Stamp Duty rates. He was prompt with his reply and his knowledge was excellent. I now feel less confused in this minefield of taxes. Thanks Nick

Si Wachira

My solicitor was unable to provide advice with certainty about a specific transaction involving LBTT, a yes or no question. I struggled to find the answer myself from reading the legislation and tax advisors quoted 100s of pounds in order to research and tell me if the correct answer was yes or no. Nick responded quickly, same day and provided the answer with a detailed explanation. Exactly what I needed to comply with the legislation. Thank you so much for your help.

Dee Coman

Nick has been very helpful. He communicated his advice very clearly. I highly recommend him for all those who have stamp duty queries. Thank you, Nick.

Ajmal Mian

I asked Nick a question on stamp duty and his response was very professional setting out the condition applicable to this particular case.

Dhvanil Shah

I have recently reached out to Land Tax Advice for free of cost advice to my query related to LBTT and Additional Dwelling Supplement in Scotland. Nick thoroughly went through my case in detail, provided with a clear answer and also attached the legislation supporting the answer he provided. I would definitely recommend their service. Thanks.

Robert Harper

Nick quickly provided exactly the sort of impartial insight that I needed and was struggling to find. It was a great help and very much appreciated.

Julie Morris

Nick is very knowledgeable regarding this field. Not only is he knowledgeable he make it very easy to understand the minefield of stamp duty. Nick has just saved me over £7,000 in stamp duty as its not payable on my planned move. It's easy for a solicitor to say you owe X amount in stamp duty its not their hard earned money being paid out unnecessary. I will never be able to thank Nick enough. My advice is if you think your solicitor has got it wrong seek out Nick. Once again Nick thank-you so much. Take Julie

Rob Watling

Thorough, detailed and comprehensive. Thanks

Ajay Treon

Amazing advice. Anyone with any SDLT queries Nick should be your goto advisor. Many thanks Nick.

Hannah Marsh

I was stressed out today believing we needed to pay stamp duty on a transfer of a house when previously I didn’t think we did. I called up and asked for advice, explained my situation and that I did not understand. It was explained really clearly to me, which was so helpful. I had already tried to get advice from my accountant who did not know the answer. In fact no one seemed to know the answer until I made this phone call so I am relieved I did.

Samuel

Nick was fantastic gave me some wonderful advice would definitely recommend. Thanks Nick

Lara H

2 years ago

Needed some advice on two SDLT matters and Nick was so helpful and knowledgeable. I’d highly recommend his services, he’s a pleasure to deal with and clearly knows his stuff!

Jonathan Cockroft

Nick is an expert in his field, knowledgeable, offering clear and concise understanding around your SDLT issue and found a prompt, informed roadmap to my individual issue. 100% speak to Nick before anyone else.

David Wong wongchisin88

My wife and I newly moved to the UK and encountered a problem over the eligibility of first time buyer. I contacted Nick over the phone for enquiry. Although I made the enquiry without any payment to Nick, he seriously took my case and eventually gave me very useful information, which greatly helped us to make decisions for the declaration of Stamp Duty. Throughout our communication, we definitely saw and felt Nick's passion and expertise in land tax field and professional comprehension of the law as well as very high efficiency. Seeing the information and explanation of the law given by Nick, we were certain that our simple question did cost Nick quite a bit time and efforts, yet he was all the time very polite. Seeing his true willingness and passion to help, patience, efficiency and expertise in land tax and the law, we truly admire this sage gentleman. Thank you very much Nick for helping us.

David Carter

Nick is incredibly knowledgeable and was immediately able to understand my complex position in relation to UK Stamp Duty as an expat working in Switzerland. He was quick and generous in providing useful, actionable and timely advice that has allowed me to save thousands in avoidable taxation. Many thanks for your help Nick - all greatly appreciated.

Debora Depaola

Nick was great during our appointment, providing clear and concise clarification about stamp duty. He explained everything in an easy-to-understand way, also providing with reference to the guidance, ensuring we felt confident about the process. His professionalism, knowledge, and approachable manner made the experience seamless and stress-free. We left feeling much more confident thanks to his help! Highly recommend!

Natalia Boguslawska

Thanks for the incredibly helpful and informative chat. Nick has patiently explained a lot, and did not dismiss my query despite the transaction being too small or not qualifying. Very knowledgeable guy, and approachable. Highly recommend!

Did I help you? Share your experience in a quick Google review. Click Here to Share Your Opinion

Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

When your former-home share may be ignored

Read the original guidance here:

Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

What this rule is about

What the official source says

What this means in practice

How to analyse it

Example

Why this can be difficult in practice

Key takeaways

Technical analysis

Legislation

Official guidance

Where this is not settled

Evidence you would need

Explore this with an AI

Useful article? You may find it helpful to read the original guidance here: Stamp duty after divorce: when a share in your former home is ignored

How it works

Great Feedback!

Professional Advice? Or overpaid SDLT, LTT, or LBTT?

Notices

Business Info

Tracking cookies

Third Party Embed