Granny annexe under threat with new stamp duty plans

THE future of the “granny annexe” is under threat after the Treasury proposed a hike in stamp duty.

HM Revenue & Customs is cracking down on buyers abusing multiple dwellings relief, a tax perk which reduces the stamp duty bill on purchases of more than one dwelling in a single transaction.

The relief can shave huge sums from the tax bills owed by buy-to-let investors, as well as buyers who purchase a property with a granny annexe used to care for vulnerable relatives.

New Government proposals threaten to shrink the loophole after finding a growing number of taxpayers had abused it. Currently, buyers purchasing two or more dwellings in the same transaction, for example from the same seller, qualify for multiple dwellings relief. This includes landlords buying several properties in the same development. The Government has suggested increasing the threshold to three or more dwellings, which would directly hit families hoping to accommodate vulnerable loved ones.

HMRC clarified it did not want to “discourage” the use of granny annexes that supported elderly relatives living on the same site. Yet its proposals could cost relatives tens of thousands more in tax. It also admitted the plans would disadvantage buy-to-let investors building smaller portfolios.

Jackie Hall, of RSM, a tax consultancy, said: “These proposals seem to unfairly disadvantage those buyers hoping to accommodate vulnerable relatives. It would be helpful if HMRC decided on an exemption which made it fairer for families in this situation.”

The consultation, which ends in February, could see the relief given only to buyers who intend to rent out or redevelop and then sell the dwellings. Another proposal would mean only annexes valued at a third or more of the total property price would qualify for the tax loophole.

Under the current rules, a buyer purchasing a £1.5million house with an annexe valued at £300,000 would qualify for the tax relief. For stamp duty, the total price would be divided into two dwellings both worth £750,000, with £27,500 of tax paid on each, making £55,000 payable in stamp duty. However, under the new proposals the annexe would not constitute a second dwelling, because its value would be less than a third of the entire purchase price. The buyer would therefore not qualify for multiple dwellings relief and would have to pay £93,750 stamp duty.