Why the Covid stamp duty holiday reveals big problems in the housing market
HM Treasury "misjudged" the property market when it introduced the Stamp Duty holiday last year, writes Michael Ball, Professor of Urban and Property Economics at the University of Reading's Henley Business School. "What must have looked superficially to be a wizard policy idea – stimulating the housing market and gaining political bouquets from happy buyers at the same time – has rebounded badly."
Written by
Michael Ball
Professor of Urban and Property Economics, University of Reading at
University of Reading
The Journal of Luxury Property. Required reading for prime property professionals.
‘Costly & unnecessary’ Stamp Duty holiday ‘not the main cause of house price boom’ – Resolution Foundation
"Stronger forces" than the temporary tax break have been at play in the housing market over the last year, says an influential think tank - which argues that the UK's Stamp Duty holidays have been "problematic…
‘End stamp duty to rebalance the housing market’ – RICS
20% of surveyors believe replacing Stamp Duty with a modernised Council Tax would benefit the property market and wider economy
By PrimeResi
Stamp Duty holiday deadline is ‘not a dealbreaker for most buyers’, as vaccine set to boost the property market next year
The Stamp Duty holiday "is not a dealbreaker for most buyers (especially at the top end)", says Savills, after surveying 1,300 prime property buyers and sellers.
Most read
LATEST ARTICLES
Happy Holidays: PrimeResi will resume full service in January 2026
Wishing all our readers health, happiness, peace and prosperity - and a very merry festive break.
By PrimeResi
Super-Prime Deal Digest: 35 of 2025’s standout London property sales
PrimeResi’s essential review of the most significant luxury transactions of the year, from Chelsea to Hampstead.
Super-Prime Deal Digest: 15 of 2025’s standout country property sales
PrimeResi’s essential review of the most significant luxury transactions of the year, from Shropshire to Surrey.
In Conversations: PrimeResi’s must-read interviews of H2 2025
Six more profiles of property industry leaders who have been shaping the luxury resi sector this year.
Monday Market Review: Key figures & findings from the last seven days
Your essential five-minute briefing on the latest market movements & commentary, featuring data, forecasts and analysis from Savills, Foxtons, ONS, LonRes, Jackson-Stops, Acadata, Property Vision, RedBook…