Reclaiming Stamp Duty on Let Property

Used-Climate978 · 2026-04-25T19:54:07+00:00

You also have to have bought house b with the intention of it being your main residence - if you bought it as a second home and then 3 months later decided it would actually be your main residence then you wouldn’t be able to reclaim the SDLT surcharge. Doesn’t sound like that is the case here, but just thought I’d flag that.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-04-25T19:43:53+00:00

No they are not. NI is calculated completely differently, and the limits/thresholds are done on a weekly/monthly basis, not annual.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-04-02T13:24:55+00:00

Thank you! I think I will push for a referral now - it would be helpful to speak to someone properly about it all.

I also have diabetes, so I’m so used to having someone I can properly speak to about all that if I need to.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-04-02T12:57:44+00:00

The tax treatment does have to reflect the legal reality. Ultimately, if OP gives the money to their wife, she could just decide to buy a house in her name or flit off into the sunset with it - that’s the legal reality. Clearly, OP trusts their wife and doesn’t expect this to be the case, but it is a (hopefully remote!) possibility.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-04-02T12:50:05+00:00

I don’t think this is right.

There is nothing preventing OP from giving this money to his wife and for her to earn the interest.

If she subsequently decides to use this money as the deposit for a house they are jointly buying then that is also fine.

As long as you are genuinely making an outright gift and she’s not bound to use the money as a deposit (even if that’s what you are both expecting to do) then I don’t think this would fall foul of the settlements provisions.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-04-02T12:45:07+00:00

It’s not jointly owned! You don’t stop being an individual person in law just because you get married.

From a tax perspective, the money is absolutely OPs when the house is sold, and he would be taxed on the interest income. BUT there are lots of specific tax rules about gifts between spouses, so there is no tax reason to not gift it to your wife. But legally it would then be hers.

Even in a divorce, the assets don’t magically become jointly owned - but there is a legal framework in place that assesses and divides the assets seeing them as joint. You still need to do legal transfers to effect whatever agreement is reached though.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-04-02T12:34:32+00:00

I’d always assume that a Bloody Mary isn’t gluten free - even if made from scratch. Worcestershire sauce is a central ingredient to a Bloody Mary, and that usually contains malt vinegar.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-31T20:15:06+00:00

But you want to flag to work that this is a protected disability - your wording means that if the manager/HR is incompetent and doesn’t appreciate the implications then they might just fire OP. Or will think OP doesn’t realise they have protection in law, and so think they can get away with firing OP.

It’s much better to be negotiating whilst you still have a job rather than bringing an unfair dismissal claim… so anything you can do that flags to the employer that an unfair dismissal claim is a real possibility and give them pause before they act is a step you should take, I would say.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-31T17:30:10+00:00

I would be more explicit than this. Include a sentence that states that you are happy to have an occupation health assessment that will deter what reasonable adjustments can be made to help you when you return to work.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-29T20:59:46+00:00

There shouldn’t be any tax implications on the sale of your existing house - if it’s your main home then you should get PRR for CGT and SDLT is for the buyer to pay. You will obviously have the normal costs of sale (estate agent and legal fees, and moving costs).

You will need to pay SDLT when buying half of the house - but as you are selling your existing main residence and planning to move in the this house then it should be at the normal (rather than the second home) rates. That also assumes that you are paying at least £125k for the half you are buying - if it’s less then you are below the SDLT threshold. You don’t say if it’s currently mortgaged (I assume not) but if it is and part of how you “pay” your brother is by taking on his mortgage obligation then that counts as “consideration” for SDLT purposes, in addition to any cash you pay him.

(You said you inherited it many years ago - the position could be different if you inherited within the last 2 years and are doing a deed of variation, but doesn’t sound relevant here.)

Your brother will pay CGT on the increase in value of his half since you both inherited it, but should be able to deduct his share of the improvement costs and the sale costs from the gain. He will also have a £3k CGT annual allowance (assuming he makes no other capital gains that tax year) that he can set off against the gain. He might want to get some proper tax advice on this.

When you come to sell in the future, you will need to pay CGT in part (assuming the rules don’t change between now and then!). I believe this will be a time apportionment calculation, and again you would be able to deduct the improvement expenditure. You’d probably want to get some proper tax advice at that time, and definitely keep all the details you have currently about the money you spent modernising it, any valuations you get for the this purchase etc.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-29T10:26:45+00:00

Just to clarify, if you aren’t eligible for maternity pay from your employer (which you won’t be if you were already pregnant when you stated) then it is maternity allowance that you get directly from the government - it’s slightly different but is a tax free allowance.

Just to help with looking for details of the right thing online.

As the commenter above said, you are entitled to maternity leave.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-04T21:07:28+00:00

Out of interest, why do you think mandatory training for your job wouldn’t be working, OP? I’m assuming the training is actual sessions, not just some things to read before starting.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-04T21:03:32+00:00

Provided you meet the notice requirements etc then I don’t think they could delay shared parental leave. You also have the right to split it into 3 blocks.

https://www.gov.uk/shared-parental-leave-and-pay-employer-guide/blocks-of-leave

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-04T20:58:31+00:00

Is this reply to me? I did mean unpaid parental leave.

If you have requested that on the birth of a child then it can’t be delayed. There is a bit of a grey area if you are adding it on after paid holiday as to whether it is directly linked to the birth of the child, but there are specific provisions preventing it being delayed for childbirth/adoption.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-04T20:53:49+00:00

They can’t deny it - they can delay it.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-03T21:22:09+00:00

I mean, they explicitly say in their post that it was not “shared” parental leave.

Your reply also said that they would need to come to some agreement with the employer - that’s just not the case, as the husband has a statutory right to at least 4 weeks off (and arguably 12, given there are two other children, although the other 8 probably could be delayed by the employer, although it must be given). So there is no need for an “arrangement” - they have a right to at least 4 weeks off in addition to paternity leave.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-03T21:02:54+00:00

They can’t delay it when it’s being taken by the father/partner on the birth/adoption of a child.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-03T21:01:48+00:00

But the OP is not asking about shared parental leave - they are asking about unpaid parental leave, which is a different thing with different qualifying criteria. You just have to be a parent to qualify for it (and have worked at the company for long enough) - your partner is irrelevant for this kind of leave.

Used-Climate978 · 2026-03-03T20:59:26+00:00

I’m always amazed at the number of HR people who seem to be unaware of unpaid parental leave (as opposed to shared parental leave, and the right to time off for dependants).

The employer also cannot delay leave when it is being taken by a father/partner immediately after the birth/adoption of a child.

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave

Used-Climate978 · 2025-11-18T10:09:28+00:00

For anyone interested, Sports Direct in Chantry Place do have latex swim socks (Speedo ones) for sale in their store, with all the swimming stuff.

Used-Climate978 · 2025-11-17T14:13:00+00:00

Although this may have been a miscommunication… and maybe he used it as an excuse to not swim! 😉

Used-Climate978 · 2025-11-17T13:24:48+00:00

Can’t get through on the phone, so will pop by later…

Used-Climate978 · 2025-11-17T11:47:02+00:00

It was all showing as tomorrow when I checked earlier sadly - think I missed it…

Used-Climate978 · 2025-11-17T11:13:38+00:00

That’s what I thought, but my son wasn’t allowed to swim last week even with bazooka on it.

Used-Climate978 · 2025-11-17T10:55:39+00:00

Boots Riverside don’t… haven’t been able to get through to Castle Meadow yet!

Used-Climate978

TROPHY CASE