Why homebuyers are turning to Auction to beat the Stamp Duty deadline

“The changes to Stamp Duty have stimulated the market in a big way, and we’ve seen it come to life in our latest results.”

Jamie Cooke, iamproperty Co-Founder

As the deadline for changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) approaches, more homebuyers are turning to auction to save thousands of pounds on their property purchases. Our recent data has revealed a significant increase in Auction activity, driven by the upcoming tax changes announced in the Autumn Budget.

With the SDLT threshold set to drop from £250,000 to £125,000 on April 1st, 2025, and the first-time buyer limit reducing from £425,000 to £300,000, homebuyers are eager to complete deals before the new rates come into effect. In response to this growing urgency, we have seen a 17.3% rise in properties sold over the last three months, alongside a one-third increase in bidding activity compared to the same period last year.

Our Co-Founder Jamie Cooke, explains: “The changes to Stamp Duty have stimulated the market in a big way, and we’ve seen it come to life in our latest results. The deadline is approaching, and completion can often take 6 months* or more using Private Treaty. Auction offers a straightforward way to secure a property quickly and avoid missing out on potential savings.

“We’re also seeing growing consumer confidence in Auction as a way to buy and sell property generally. Our data shows over a third of people are open to using Auction, rising to 57% among 18-34-year-olds^^.

“For Estate Agents, this shift is a chance to expand their service offering by adding Auction and cater to a wider market. By offering Auction, Estate Agents can help clients to complete well before the new threshold takes effect, with a solution that offers 56-day completion times and 7-day payments^, helping them please clients and boost their profitability.”