Q&A Your legal questions answered.

Send your questions to askdean@people.co.uk

Stamp duty is the tax you cough up on property purchases if the amount you pay falls within the payment threshold.

The amount you pay depends on the purchase price.

Under the rules, the threshold where you start paying in England and Northern Ireland was £125,000 – or £300,000 for first-time buyers where the purchase price was less than £500,000.

Where the price was greater than this, you paid a percentage:

2 per cent on the portion of a property between £125,001 and £250,000.

5 per cent on the portion between £250,001 and £925,000.

10 per cent between £925,001 and £1,500,000.

12 per cent on the portion costing more than £1,500,001.

Under the new rules, the £125,000 threshold is being temporarily increased to £500,000. This means there will be no stamp duty to pay on property purchases up to this amount.

If you purchase a property for more than £500,000, the stamp duty bands set out above are

QI AM in dispute with a retailer over a defective TV that cost £1,499. They say they are waiting for a report from the manufacturer. I made a section 75 claim but the card provider has rejected it as I do not have a final outcome letter from the retailer.

Rob Delaney YOUR card provider is wrong. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 provides no stipulation that you have to obtain an outcome letter first. It doesn’t even say that you have to complain to the retailer first.

I HAD carpets fitted in my house and the end result is terrible. I have complained to the retailer but they have said that it’s the fitter’s problem and I must complain direct to him. However, they organised for him to do the

AQunchanged, although you will still make a saving of £15,000 on the first £500,000.

WHEN THE CHANGES KICK IN The changes came into effect on Wednesday and will remain in place until March 31 2021.

The three per cent levy paid if you already own a home and are buying an additional property worth more than £40,000 still applies, although you will still pay fitting so why can’t I complain to them? Richard South

IF you paid the fitter directly it means that you entered into a contract with him to fit the carpets, not the retailer. This is common and it means that the retailer is right.

I ARRANGED to have a new boiler installed and to pay for

AQless than you would because of the raised threshold.

WHAT YOU PAY IF YOU EXCHANGED CONTRACTS BEFOREHAND

It does not matter as the key date is the completion date.

The reason for this is that the requirement to pay stamp duty is only triggered on completion. This means that you are bound by whatever the stamp duty rules are on the date of completion.

it on finance. The first payment under the finance agreement has been taken from my bank but the boiler installation has not yet been completed. Should they have done this? Shirley Harper

NO. They should reimburse this payment. The finance agreement should not trigger any payments until the work has been completed and you have confirmed that the installation is to your satisfaction.

I BOUGHT an electronic scooter 18 months ago. The battery has now died and won’t charge. I called them and they say they cant help as it is now out of warranty. Jim Winterbourne

IF the battery is faulty you will be entitled to have it repaired or replaced under the Consumer Rights Act. The warranty is irrelevant for this.

AQA