Neocabot Properties · 11 September 2026
The practical answer
- Use the current government Stamp Duty Land Tax guidance and calculator for your buyer status and completion date.
- Order the title register and title plan, then have a conveyancer interpret restrictions, charges and ownership details.
- For leasehold homes, review the lease term, service charges, planned works and management information.
- Keep purchase eligibility, tax residence, finance and immigration questions separate.
Work out the tax from your circumstances
Stamp Duty Land Tax in England and Northern Ireland depends on the price, completion date, property type and buyer circumstances. Government guidance has a separate section for non-UK residents and links to the current calculator.
Do not copy a tax figure from another buyer or an old brochure. Additional-property rules, company ownership and residence tests can change the calculation, so obtain tax advice when the structure is not straightforward.
Use the land register as a starting point
HM Land Registry lets you search for property information and order the title register and title plan. The register can identify the registered owner, tenure and certain charges or restrictions.
A register is not a complete survey or legal opinion. Your conveyancer should examine the contract pack, searches, rights, restrictions and source-of-funds requirements for the transaction.
If it is leasehold, price the obligations
The UK Government's leasehold guide explains that buyers should understand the remaining lease term, service charges, ground rent where applicable, planned major works and the managing arrangements.
Ask for recent service-charge accounts, the current budget, building insurance information and notices for major works. Model these costs alongside mortgage, letting, maintenance, tax and vacancy assumptions.
The purchase price is visible first. Title, tax and recurring obligations decide the complete cost.
This guide is general information, not personal financial, legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules, costs and market conditions can change; verify the current position with the relevant authority and suitably qualified advisers.
Questions buyers ask
Can an overseas buyer use the standard SDLT calculator?
Use the current government guidance and calculator, but make sure the answers reflect non-resident and additional-property circumstances. Obtain tax advice where needed.
Does the title register replace a solicitor?
No. It is an important official record, but a conveyancer should interpret it with the contract, searches and other transaction documents.
What is the biggest leasehold cost to check?
There is no single cost for every building. Review the lease term, service-charge history, current budget, reserve fund and planned major works together.