Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property Industry Eye. Read the original article for full details.

Stamp Duty Creates Regional Divide for First-Time Buyers

New analysis from Zoopla highlights a growing regional divide in stamp duty liabilities for first-time buyers across England. The research, based on homebuyer enquiries during the first half of 2026, shows that stamp duty is a significantly greater barrier for first-time buyers in southern England than in the North.

First-time buyers benefit from stamp duty relief on purchases up to £300,000. Nationally, only 38% of first-time buyers pay the tax, meaning almost two-thirds complete without a stamp duty bill. However, the proportion of first-time buyers paying stamp duty varies widely by region.

In the North East, just 2.1% of first-time buyers are expected to pay stamp duty, with similar low rates in Yorkshire and the Humber (3.8%), the North West (6.2%), and the West Midlands (9.3%). In these regions, average purchase prices remain below the £300,000 relief threshold.

By contrast, more than half of first-time buyers in the South East (51%) and East of England (52%) face a stamp duty bill, with average purchase prices close to £400,000. In London, 79.7% of first-time buyers are liable for stamp duty, with the average purchase price reaching £475,000 and the average tax bill standing at £8,750.

Zoopla’s findings underline how stamp duty now has a very different impact across England, with regional house price disparities increasingly determining whether buyers face an additional tax burden. For letting agents and inventory clerks, these regional differences may influence the pace and nature of first-time buyer activity in their local markets.

The analysis also shows that existing homeowners moving house do not benefit from stamp duty relief, and the vast majority face a tax bill when they move. More than four in five home movers pay stamp duty in every English region except the North East, where 63.5% incur the tax.