The government has defined the ‘first time buyers’ who will benefit from its immediate scrapping of stamp duty for FTB purchases below £300,000.
The definition of a first time buyer, enshrined in the Budget small print, has been tightened up to ensure only what it regards as ‘genuine’ FTBs can take advantage of the new initiative.
“In order to count as a first time buyer, a purchaser must not - either alone or with others - have previously acquired a major interest in a dwelling or an equivalent interest in land situated anywhere else in the world.
“This includes previous acquisitions by inheritance or gift or by a financial institution on behalf of a person under an alternative finance scheme.
“Relief is not denied by virtue of a previous acquisition as a trustee unless the purchaser was also a beneficiary of the trust.
“Relief is also not denied in the purchaser owns or has previously owned non-residential or mixed-use property, as long as that property did not include a dwelling.
“This restriction does not apply where the interest acquired was the grant or assignment of a lease with less than 21 years to run.
“If the property is purchased jointly, all the purchasers must meet these conditions.”
