09/09/2025
You may have seen the recent headlines about the Deputy Prime Minister and Stamp Duty. Beyond the speculation, it highlights a key point: when SDLT gets complex, you need a specialist.
- Conveyancers (solicitors, licensed conveyancers, or legal executives) are expected to advise on the standard SDLT position, applying basic rates, thresholds, and surcharges.
- Complex scenarios - such as multiple dwellings relief, mixed-use claims, linked transactions, partnerships, or corporate acquisitions - often fall outside their remit and require specialist SDLT tax input.
The SRA and CLC permit conveyancers to provide SDLT advice within conveyancing, but once advice strays into broader tax planning, it risks being outside their regulated role. Mistakes can carry significant liability - as the ex-DPM’s case shows.
Mis-stating SDLT liability can expose conveyancers to negligence claims, so the conservative approach is often safest. When SDLT gets complex, the right advice makes all the difference. That's where we come in.
Need clarity on a recent transaction? Get in touch with Huzaifah Malik, our SDLT Consultant: https://hubs.ly/Q03Hsrgh0