Will stamp duty holiday invigorate housebuying?

July saw the chancellor announce a temporary holiday on stamp duty for the purchase of houses valued at £500,000 or below in England and Northern Ireland. The change, which came into immediate effect, will last until 31st March 2021. Although it could give a much-needed boost to the housing market, the initiative has been met with a mixed reaction. Some critics claim the break is too short to make a real difference, while it also comes at a time when first-time buyers are struggling to access mortgages.