Home Ownership Support 2020-06-15
2020-06-15
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
First Homes programme for discounted home ownership, and the differences in land transaction tax between Wales and England.
Inquires about the First Homes initiative which discounts homes by at least 30% for local people and first-time buyers, noting a friend's recent purchase in Wales where he paid £3,700 in land transaction tax while purchases across the border in England would incur no stamp duty. Asks for support to raise the Welsh threshold for first-time buyers to match England's at £300,000.
Acknowledges Delyn as a beautiful constituency; notes that land transaction tax in Wales is devolved. Criticizes the Welsh Government's house-building record, highlighting their lack of success especially in social housing with fewer than 140 built in five years. Praises England's stamp duty relief measures which mean no stamp duty for 80% of first-time buyers and significant reductions for others, benefiting over 500,000 people since its introduction.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy