‘100,000 house buyers will miss stamp duty holiday'

AROUND one in five home buyers who agreed a deal last July when a stamp duty holiday was announced have not completed their purchase.

- Vicky Shaw

Rightmove has estimated that around 100,000 buyers will fail to complete by the stamp duty deadline on March 31.

The property website’s analysis suggests that of those buyers who agreed on a purchase last July, one in five remain stuck in the “logjam” more than six months later.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s director of property data, said: “Whilst it’s too late for the stamp duty holiday, there are good reasons to come to market now, especially if selling a property suitable for a family.

“There are more possible buyers looking and fewer suitable alternatives to divert their attention away from yours.”

Rightmove said that, following three months of falls, sellers’ asking prices increased by 0.5 per cent or £1,522 typically, fuelled by a shortage in supply and growing demand.