LRG survey finds four in 10 respondents cite the tax as the change most likely to prompt a move
Four in 10 people surveyed by Leaders Romans Group (LRG) named Stamp Duty as the single change most likely to encourage them to move, despite the government confirming no changes to the tax in last week’s Budget. Asked in their own words what would most prompt a move in the coming year, 217 of 542 respondents named Stamp Duty.
The finding comes from LRG’s Autumn 2026 Sales Report. Fieldwork was conducted from 29 July to 10 August 2026, after the Prime Minister had publicly ruled out any Stamp Duty changes ahead of the Budget. For mortgage brokers, the data points to a client base that remains price-sensitive on transaction costs even when policy is settled.
Forty-three per cent of respondents said a reduction or removal of Stamp Duty would make them move sooner than planned. This was the single largest response in LRG’s Autumn 2026 Sales Report. Here’s the full breakdown:
| If Stamp Duty were reduced or removed, respondents said they would… | Share |
|---|---|
| Move sooner than planned | 43% |
| Consider a higher-value property | 41% |
| Consider moving more often | 21% |
| Would make no difference | 28% |
| Policy plays no part in decision to move | 8% |
Source: LRG Autumn 2026 Sales Report. Fieldwork conducted 29 July–10 August 2026. Base: 591 respondents. Respondents could select more than one answer.
As brokers have reported throughout 2026, client hesitancy over transaction costs has been a persistent drag on market activity.
Neil Louth, group executive director at LRG and chief executive of Acorn Group, said the data reflects how buyers weigh up total transaction costs.
“People look at the total cost of moving, and Stamp Duty is a substantial bill on top of their deposit, legal fees, surveys and removals,” he said. “It’s too high at every level, from getting onto the ladder to making an aspirational move as your family grows.”
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What does stamp duty mean for downsizers?
Downsizers account for a third of survey respondents — the largest single group. Of those, 41% said they would move sooner if Stamp Duty were reduced or removed. That compares with 43% across the survey as a whole. Thirty-one per cent of downsizers said it would make no difference to their plans.
For a significant share of downsizers, the advice conversation needs to go beyond tax and address property availability, location, and personal circumstance. Research published earlier this year highlighted how stamp duty affects movers at every price point, including those trading down.
“Stamp Duty matters, but it is only part of the decision,” Louth said. “People need somewhere they actually want to move to, in the right location, and the move needs to make sense financially and personally.”
Your First Home scheme
The Budget made no changes to Stamp Duty, but did confirm one housing intervention. The Your First Home scheme offers first-time buyers in England a 20% equity loan on a qualifying new-build home. Buyers need a 2.5% deposit, and the loan is interest-free for five years.
Backed by £4.7 billion of government lending and expected to support around 70,000 households, the scheme opens for applications in February 2027 with first purchases from April 2027. For brokers with deposit-constrained first-time buyer clients, it represents a specific and immediate opportunity worth raising in client conversations ahead of the February opening.
“For people who can manage mortgage repayments but struggle to build a deposit, particularly without financial help from family, it could bring homeownership within reach,” Louth said.
Rightmove’s latest figures show more homes for sale than at any point since 2014 for this time of year. Broker opinion on the stamp duty freeze has been divided since the Budget decision was signalled, with some arguing it averts market distortion and others contending it continues to suppress transaction volumes.
“If the right home is available and the finances work, there can be a strong case for moving now,” Louth said.
