What this page is based on
Trust and data notes
- ReviewedFigures and official sources were substantively reviewed on 19 July 2026. Numerical examples use calculator data version 2026.07.1.
- How to read the figuresOfficial charges and estimate-led costs are shown separately so buyers can see which parts of the total are fixed rules and which parts are planning ranges.
- When to double-checkFigures are guidance only. Buyers should check important numbers with their solicitor, lender or the relevant official authority before making financial decisions.
- Source styleThis page includes official-rate references and linked source notes where applicable.
Official reference points used on this page include HMRC SDLT residential property rates and Revenue Scotland LBTT residential rates and bands.
At a glance
Key facts buyers should know first
England and Northern Ireland
SDLT first-time buyer relief may apply
Scotland
LBTT first-time buyer relief uses Scottish rules
Wales
LTT has no separate first-time buyer rate in the calculator
Non-tax costs
Use the same central market assumptions as every other buyer guide
Trust note
Official-rate items vs estimate-led items
TrueHomeCosts separates published rates from market-based assumptions so buyers can see which figures are official and which ones are planning estimates.
Official or published-reference items
- property tax rules
- published registration fees where relevant
- official Lifetime ISA guidance
Estimate-led items
- survey costs
- legal fees
- mortgage charges
- furnishing and moving budgets
How labels are used across the site
Official charge: based on published tax bands or fee scales.
Lender charge: fees tied to mortgage products, valuations or broker work.
Solicitor/conveyancing estimate: legal work and disbursement planning ranges.
Market estimate: surveys, moving, furnishing or other provider-led costs.
Optional cost: useful for planning, but not required on every purchase.
Situation-dependent cost: applies only to some properties or buyer types.
Plan the full picture
Use this guide with the right follow-up pages
Start with the homepage calculator to test your own numbers, then compare this topic with How much money do I need to buy a house in the UK?, Hidden costs of buying a house in the UK, Home buying schemes in the UK and Furnishing costs for a first home in the UK.
If family is helping with the deposit, check the gifted deposit evidence and letter requirements before the money is transferred.
First-time buyer property-tax examples by jurisdiction
These results come from the production tax functions and are not manual threshold estimates.
The table below shows current first-time buyer property-tax examples, with columns for Property price, Jurisdiction, and Calculated property tax.
| Property price | Jurisdiction | Calculated property tax |
|---|---|---|
| £200,000 | England / Northern Ireland | £0 |
| £200,000 | Scotland | £500 |
| £200,000 | Wales | £0 |
| £300,000 | England / Northern Ireland | £0 |
| £300,000 | Scotland | £4,000 |
| £300,000 | Wales | £4,500 |
| £400,000 | England / Northern Ireland | £5,000 |
| £400,000 | Scotland | £12,750 |
| £400,000 | Wales | £10,500 |
| £500,000 | England / Northern Ireland | £10,000 |
| £500,000 | Scotland | £22,750 |
| £500,000 | Wales | £18,000 |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Worked England first-time buyer example
Scenario: £300,000 property, England, first-time buyer, 10% deposit, average assumptions, moving and insurance included, furnishing excluded and 10% contingency.
The table below shows calculator-derived first-time buyer breakdown, with columns for Cost, Amount, and Treatment.
| Cost | Amount | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | £30,000 | user entered |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax | £0 | official calculation |
| Solicitor / conveyancing | £1,400 | market estimate |
| Search fees | £340 | market estimate |
| Survey | £700 | market estimate |
| Mortgage fees | £800 | market estimate |
| Registration fee | £150 | official charge |
| Bank transfer fee | £40 | market estimate |
| Moving costs | £1,100 | optional allowance |
| Insurance | £320 | optional allowance |
| Contingency | £470 | optional allowance |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Costs that relief does not remove
- Solicitor/conveyancing
- Search fees
- Survey and valuation
- Mortgage fees
- Registration
- Bank transfer fee
- Selected moving, insurance, furnishing and contingency
Try this in the calculator
Run your own version of this scenario
Use the homepage calculator to change the property price, nation, buyer type and assumption level so you can compare the simple version of the budget with a more realistic one.
Open the calculatorBefore relying on first-time buyer treatment
Eligibility depends on the official rules and the circumstances of every buyer in the transaction. Confirm relief with the solicitor handling the purchase.
Do not apply an England example to Scotland or Wales.
Price your first-home budget properly
Use the calculator to compare first-time buyer totals across the UK with deposit and optional extras included.
Go to the calculatorPopular buying-cost examples
See how the deposit and extra costs change at common UK property prices.
Content notes
Reviewed and maintained by the TrueHomeCosts research team.
Our guides are built from official UK tax sources, public cost information and typical market price ranges. We separate fixed official charges from variable market estimates so buyers can see which figures are certain and which may change.
Last reviewed: 19 July 2026
Calculator data version: 2026.07.1
This content is for general guidance only and is not financial advice. For more detail, read how our estimates work or learn more about TrueHomeCosts.
FAQ
Questions buyers usually ask
Do first-time buyers pay the same property tax across the UK?
No. SDLT, LBTT and LTT have different rules and relief structures.
Does tax relief remove legal and survey costs?
No. Those market-estimate costs still apply where required.
Are all mortgage fees compulsory?
No. Charges depend on the product, lender and broker arrangements.
Related guides
Read next
How much money do I need to buy a house in the UK?
Work out how much money you need to buy a house in the UK, including the deposit, upfront fees, property tax, legal costs, surveys, mortgage charges, moving costs and a practical buffer.
Hidden costs of buying a house in the UK
A detailed guide to the hidden costs of buying a house in the UK, including solicitor fees, conveyancing disbursements, searches, surveys, transfer fees, indemnity policies and the practical extras buyers often miss.
Home buying schemes in the UK
Understand UK home-buying schemes including Right to Buy, shared ownership staircasing costs, Help to Buy equity loan considerations, buy-to-let upfront costs and Lifetime ISA rules.
Furnishing costs for a first home in the UK
Budget for the cost of furnishing a first home in the UK, including essentials, non-essentials, realistic ranges and how to phase spend after completion.
Stamp duty explained: UK property tax in plain English
Stamp duty explained UK in plain English, including SDLT, LBTT, LTT, first-time buyer treatment, second-home costs and the main 2026 differences by nation.
Sources and checks
These are the main public sources used for official-rate items and checks on this page. Estimate-led costs remain planning ranges rather than government charges.