ESTATE agents are reporting a surge in activity at the top end of the property market as people rush to buy and sell property now and escape the increased costs of the new tax on house sales .
Scottish offices have recorded increased inquiries both from people wanting to purchase property now to avoid paying more tax when the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) comes into force in April next year, and from sellers who fear the new tax will bring about a slowdown in the market and make it difficult for them to move on.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister John Swinney announced plans to sweep away stamp duty and introduce the LBTT system, as the power to vary tax on property transactions is devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Under stamp duty, house buyers paid one per cent of the property value on sales over £125,000, three per cent on sales over £250,000 and four per cent on sales over £500,000, with higher rates for homes more than £1 million and £2m.
Next year buyers will not be taxed on sales below £135,000 and will pay two per cent up to £250,000. However, above that figure costs increase sharply, with people buying homes costing more £325,000 paying more than before.
Under LBTT, tax on a £400,000 property will be £5,300 more than at present, and as much as £22,300 will be added on to the cost of purchasing on a home worth £750,000.
The up-front tax on a £1m property will be £77,300, an increase of £27,300, while at the very top end of the market the LBTT on a house worth £2m will be £197,300, a rise of £57,300.
Dr John Boyle, director of research and strategy at Rettie and Co, said worries over extra costs had meant the traditional slowdown in property sales had yet to materialise.
He said: "There are a lot more enquiries coming into the market than would be normal at this time of year. At the mid to top end of the market it is at a much higher level than we would expect.
"It has remained at a level more traditionally associated with the summer, and it looks as though people have decided to put their homes on the market and get the sale over by the end of the year.
"Normally there is a slowdown around now, but people are keen to move now if they can."
He added: "It is most noticeable in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and the west end of Glasgow, where there are more properties above £325,000 than elsewhere. It is these type of properties that are starting to come on to the market now."
The Scottish Government has said that LBTT will be "revenue neutral" and is will raise the same amount of money overall as stamp duty. Mr Swinney said 90 per cent of sales would attract the same or a lower tax bill.
Faisal Choudhry, associate director and head of Scottish research at Savills, said that too many political developments in a short space of time was hindering the property market in Scotland.
He said: "There has been the referendum on independence, the change to stamp duty and next year there will be a General Election. I expect there will also be a surge in transactions as people seek to get the properties bought and sold before it comes into play.
"I think there is room for adjustment between what people will pay for a house and what the seller wants in the face of the changes brought in by LBTT, and that will take time."
He added: "One worry is that the Scottish Government expects the top-valued nine per cent of transactions under LBTT to generate around 73 per cent of the revenue, and it remains to be seen if the level of activity will remain that high."
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