Author: Engr Yaseen

You’ve just bought the worst house on the street. No kitchen. No bathroom. No heating. The ceiling’s threatening to cave in and the estate agent used words like “project” and “full refurbishment required” as if that somehow softened the blow. You’re bracing yourself for six months of dust, builders and eye-watering costs. Then HMRC comes knocking and says: “That’ll be full Stamp Duty, please.” Possibly with the extra 5% if it’s your second property. And all you can think is: “Wait… what?” Welcome to the weird and slightly infuriating world of stamp duty on uninhabitable property. Spoiler alert: it’s not…

If you’ve recently bought a property and were hit with a higher rate of stamp duty, you might be wondering if you’re entitled to some of that money back. With the rules around stamp duty being as complex as they are, many buyers end up paying more than they should—especially when it comes to additional property purchases. In certain cases, it’s possible to claim a 5% stamp duty surcharge refund. This article breaks down when the higher rate applies, who might be able to get a refund, and how the process works. When Does the 5% Surcharge Apply? In the…