"What the HMRC figures do show is the huge impact that changes to stamp duty can have"
According to HMRC, the provisional seasonally adjusted UK property transaction count for April 2017 was 99,910 residential and 9,980 non-residential transactions - 20.3% higher compared with the same month last year. However, HMRC warned that direct comparisons of residential transactions between April 2017 and April 2016 should be avoided due to the unusually low level of transactions in April 2016. This was associated with the introduction of the higher tax rates on additional properties introduced in this month.
Stephen Wasserman, Managing Director at West One Loans, comments: “The property market will take a while to fully recover from the jitters caused by stamp duty hikes and economic uncertainty. On top of this, the result of the upcoming General Election is likely to have an impact over the coming months. Nevertheless, we’re confident the sector will bounce back. Although the market is resilient, during times of prolonged economic uncertainty it is important that borrowers are aware of the range of financing available. Flexible borrowing options, such as bridging loans, can help to speed up the transaction, enabling buyers to move faster and capitalise on opportunities in this uncertain environment.”
Shaun Church, Director at Private Finance, comments: “While residential transaction levels are significantly higher than a year ago, the changes to stamp duty for second homebuyers in March 2016 render an annual comparison pointless. Homeowners and investors rushed to beat the deadline last year, which led to an explosive March followed by a quiet April for the residential market. Today’s market remains slightly sluggish, with the number of seasonally adjusted transactions dipping between March and April.
The upcoming election is unlikely to be having a significant effect on property transactions, particularly as the residential market took last year’s Brexit vote in its stride. The main reason behind weaker transaction figures remains the changes to stamp duty, which have particularly limited activity towards the upper end of the housing market.”
Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, says: "At first glance one might think these figures are hugely disappointing but when you consider what was happening this time last year and what has happened to property transactions in the past few months, they represent steady progress for the housing market. Transaction numbers are really key to what is going on in the market - how many people are actually getting on with the business of moving - and these numbers suggest some resilience.
What the HMRC figures do show is the huge impact that changes to stamp duty can have, not just on property transactions but the wider economy bearing in mind how many people are dependent in other trades on people moving home."
Paul Smith, CEO of haart estate agents, had this to say:“Transactions are moving slowly up again this month, but significant structural changes to the property market are needed to balance out inter-generational equality, and to make sure that young people today are able to gain the home ownership that their parents and grandparents were able to. Luckily bank of mum and dad are stepping in to help – if it wasn’t for them we would certainly see transaction levels fall even lower. A severe lack of stock remains a huge issue too.
Our latest data shows that there are 22 buyers chasing every instruction in London, and 10 buyers for every property across the country.”
