Scrapping stamp duty

SIR – You report (December 2) on the call to “scrap stamp duty for pensioners who downsize”.

While this would get rid of the duty on the smaller house purchased, there is another problem. The duty which would be levied on the sale of the large house being disposed of – which would have to be paid by the purchaser – would inevitably reduce the sale price.

Thus the downsizer would be hit by a double whammy, rather than a fairly small relief. David Whitaker

Alton, Hampshire