Buyers in Birmingham shouldn't fear the end of the stamp duty holiday

The stamp duty holiday, which ended on 24 March, saw many first-time buyers hurry to take advantage and purchase a new home before the deadline.

The temporary two-year scheme, to encourage people onto the property ladder, began in March 2009 and meant that those buying their first home before the deadline were exempt from the one-per-cent stamp duty charge.

Over the past couple of months, there has been a surge of first-time buyers rushing to purchase, as reported by Hometrack, the property analytics firm. In February, it reported that the number of people registering with agents increased, by 18 per cent, over the month. However, anyone who missed out should not worry. That’s the reassuring advice of Linden Homes, which is currently building at two developments in southwest Birmingham.

Linda Huntington, sales manager at Linden Homes, comments: “The stamp duty holiday has proved to be a useful lifeline, but what many buyers don’t realise is that they can still avoid paying land tax – if they buy one of our two-beds at either of our sites – The Mews or The Lanes. That’s because we are building in a ‘regeneration area’, and anyone who buys a residential property, for under £150,000, in one of these areas is not liable to pay the levy. Plus, what makes it even better is the fact that it is open to all purchasers – not just first-time buyers.”

One of the two-bed homes eligible is the Ascot at The Lanes. Visitors can expect a spacious lounge, open-plan kitchen with dining area and convenient cloakroom on the ground floor. On the first floor are the family bathroom and two well-proportioned bedrooms. The property features a drive for parking and is available for £134,995.

Linden Homes is working with the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to bring 51 new properties to the area.

The Mews, located on Moors Lane, in Bartley Green, features 12 new homes, in a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties, priced from £139,995. Meanwhile, The Lanes, on Frogmill Road, Northfield, has 39 homes for sale, with a selection of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom house styles available from £134,995.

For further information on the new homes available at both developments, visit the new show home at The Lanes, open Thursday–Monday, 10am–5pm. Alternatively, log on to lindenhomes.co.uk.