Government reintroduces Higher seller stamp duty (SSD) from 4 July 2025

[abbby]

Instead of 3 years now SSD applies to 4 years. and rates have revised to 16%, 12%, 8% and 4%. Quite obvious to prevent new launch flipping which so many are into.

I think it's a good move but not sure if that additional one year makes much difference. What are your thoughts?



Sharing this from someone who shared with me:

The SSD revision is not considered a new cooling measure per se. Rather, it is the reinstatement of a policy tool that was previously in place. From 2011 to 2017, the SSD holding period was 4 years, before being reduced to 3 years in 2017. The government has now reverted back to a 4-year SSD, using it as a lever to fine-tune market stability.

Here’s the updated SSD tier with effect from 4 July 2025:

Holding Period
New SSD Rate
< 1 year-16%
> 1 to ≤ 2 years-12%
> 2 to ≤ 3 years-8%
> 3 to ≤ 4 years-4%
> 4 years- 0%

Market Sentiment & Observations

The increase in sub-sales between 2022 and 2024 is understandable, given the strong post-COVID market rebound. From 2021 to 2023, private home prices increased by a cumulative 26%, motivating some owners to sell early and realise profits.

However, in today’s market climate:
• Price growth has moderated significantly since 2024.
• The first half of 2025 shows only a 1.3% increase.
• Current buyer sentiment is not speculative in nature.
• Most buyers today adopt a mid to long-term view—as genuine homeowners or long-horizon investors.

Conclusion

This SSD revision is a calibrated measure, not a broad-based cooling action. It is unlikely to have any significant impact on the current real estate market, where speculative activity is now almost non-existent.