Stamp duty as a barrier to downsizing houses

SIR – The Government is considering how to encourage older people in larger homes to sell up and move on, making room for younger families.

My wife and I, both in our seventies, live in a five-bedroom house in an expensive area of Middlesex. We would like to downsize, but find that the sort of smaller houses we’d favour, in the lower price brackets, are rising in price as the larger homes remain out of reach for young couples. Equally, the larger and more expensive properties, such as ours, are not realising their full asking price because of the stamp duty burden.

If the Government really wants to give an incentive to older people to move out of larger properties, it might consider reducing or removing stamp duty altogether from home owners in their seventies. Andrew Segal Hampton, Middlesex SIR – Kirstie Allsopp (Comment, February 8) sets out good reasons why elderly people should consider carefully before downsizing.

There is one other important aspect. Retirement apartments are still mainly sold as leasehold. This is an antiquated and unfair system which should have no place in the 21st century. Until commonhold property is widely available, the elderly should stay put. Brenda Banks Teignmouth, Devon