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Property tax · England

The Conservatives' plan to abolish stamp duty: what would you save?

Scrapping stamp duty land tax entirely on primary residences, whatever they're worth — a one-off saving for anyone buying a home to live in.

Status: Proposal — not law Region: England & NI Party: Conservative (Kemi Badenoch) Announced: 2025 conference

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What's being proposed

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged that a future Conservative government would abolish stamp duty land tax entirely on primary residences — regardless of the property's value. It was the headline tax announcement of her leadership's economic prospectus, framed as a way to help more people onto and up the housing ladder. Stamp duty on second homes and additional properties would not be covered by the pledge.

Where it comes from

The Conservatives have built their pitch around fiscal discipline — a "golden economic rule" that splits any savings between cutting the deficit and cutting taxes — funded by reductions in welfare and the civil service. Within that frame, scrapping stamp duty is presented as a pro-aspiration, pro-mobility tax cut. Stamp duty is widely disliked by economists for taxing people simply for moving home, so abolition has support across the political spectrum; the disagreement is mostly about whether it's affordable and what, if anything, should replace the revenue.

How it would work

  • Stamp duty would fall to £0 on a main home of any value when you buy.
  • First-time buyers would also pay nothing (they already get relief up to certain thresholds; this removes the charge entirely).
  • Second homes and additional properties would still pay stamp duty, including the existing surcharge.
  • Unlike the rival Proportional Property Tax idea, there is no new annual charge to replace it — it's a straight abolition.
Want to see the contrast? The Proportional Property Tax also scraps stamp duty — but replaces it (and council tax) with a yearly charge on value. This Conservative plan simply removes the one-off bill with no annual replacement.

The case for and against

Supporters argue

  • It removes a major upfront cost and friction on moving, helping first-time buyers, downsizers and movers.
  • Freeing up the market can improve how efficiently homes are used.
  • It's a simple, visible tax cut that doesn't create a new annual liability.

Critics argue

  • Stamp duty raises billions; abolition has to be paid for, and critics question whether the promised spending cuts are deliverable.
  • The biggest cash savings go to buyers of the most expensive homes.
  • Cutting a transaction tax without reforming council tax leaves the wider property-tax system untouched.
Interactive calculator

What would you save?

Enter what you're paying for a home to see today's stamp duty (England 2025/26 rates) and what abolition would save you. The saving applies to main homes; second homes keep paying.

A what-if, not a forecast. Nothing here is law. Today's figure uses current England stamp duty rules; the proposed figure assumes abolition on primary residences. Not financial advice.

Your purchase

Buyer type
Abolition covers homes you'll live in. Additional properties keep paying stamp duty.

Stamp duty uses England's 2025/26 bands (also applicable in Northern Ireland): nil to £125,000, 2% to £250,000, 5% to £925,000, 10% to £1.5m, 12% above, with first-time-buyer relief and a 5% additional-property surcharge. The proposal removes the charge on primary residences only. Scotland and Wales set their own equivalents. Not financial advice.

Sources & further reading

  • Conservative Party — leader's conference announcement on abolishing stamp duty.
  • GOV.UK — current Stamp Duty Land Tax rates and rules.

Figures are illustrative and based on reported proposals; rates and rules may change. General information, not financial, legal or tax advice.