Frazer Coogans Solicitors welcome first-time housebuyers’ Stamp Duty exemption

March 28, 2010 - PRLog -- Ayrshire, Scotland--A leading Ayrshire firm of solicitors has welcomed the two-year exemption from SDLT (Stamp Duty Land Tax) for first-time house buyers of properties up to £250.000 which was announced in Alistair Darling’s Budget last Wednesday.

Frazer Coogans Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes said: “The concession on SDLT for the next two years raising the limit to £250,000 for first time home buyers is most welcome.

“It will provide a welcome boost to the housing market, not only by stimulating the first time buyer market but also by stimulating the market above that, as current homeowners find it easier to sell their houses and move upmarket.”

Legislation in the Finance Bill 2010 will introduce relief from SDLT for purchases of residential property at up to £250,000 where the purchaser or all the purchasers are first time buyers and intend to occupy the property as their only or main home. This relief will only be available for the next two years.

At present the SDLT rate is 1 per cent for residential purchases where the price is more than £125,000 and up to £250,000. The Finance Bill 2010 will provide relief for residential purchases in this price band if the purchaser or all the purchasers have not previously acquired such property.

It does not apply where the purchaser is a company.

A first time buyer is defined as someone who has not previously held a proprietary interest in such a property anywhere in the world,

If more than one person is buying, then all must be first time buyers for the exemption to apply.

Norman Geddes concluded: “The housing market has been stifled for the past two years by banks placing limits on mortgages for first time buyers which required them to have a substantial deposit, plus find up to £2,500 for Stamp Duty.

“The mortgage market is now beginning to ease slightly, and the Stamp Duty exemption will save first time buyers up to £2,500 depending on the price of the property.”

ABOUT FRAZER COOGANS SOLICITORS

Ayrshire solicitors Frazer Coogans have expanded rapidly from small beginnings in the 1980s to offer a friendly and personal service to all clients from their modern premises in Ayr town centre. From their Ayr base, partners Norman Geddes, Austin Thomson and Lauren Fowler - all experienced solicitors, along with their professional and dedicated staff, provide a comprehensive suite of legal services to Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland and the UK, with particular expertise in accident claims, personal injury damages, property conveyancing, divorce and family law, wills, estates and executries.

Frazer Coogans’ Ayr office operates a specialist Accident Claims & Personal Injury Damages Centre to assist clients in making claims for personal injury damages after road traffic, workplace, slip and trip accidents and also in criminal injuries compensation. This Ayrshire firm of solicitors has also established a significant presence in Scotland’s property conveyancing market, advising clients on all aspects of buying, selling and leasing premises both domestic and commercial, and handling property conveyancing for diverse clients across Scotland.

Scottish divorce and family law is another area in which Frazer Coogans solicitors possess particular expertise, advising on the legal, financial and child related issues associated with divorce, providing negotiation for amicable settlement and undertaking litigation where needed. Frazer Coogans solicitors also offer a professional, dedicated and sympathetic service for wills and estates in the UK, including the administration of estates and appointing executors.

In 2003 Frazer Coogans successfully attained the “Investors in People” standard.

The firm is fully computerised with Broadband connection. It occupies modern premises in the centre of Ayr with adjacent parking for clients and wheelchair-friendly access.

Contact:

Frazer Coogans Solicitors
Dalblair House
46 Dalblair Road
Ayr KA7 1UQ
Ayrshire, Scotland

Contact: Norman Geddes, Senior Partner
Tel: 01292 280499
Fax: 01292 611645
E-mail: norman.geddes@frazercoogans.co.uk
Web: http://www.frazercoogans.co.uk

THE ELITE AYRSHIRE BUSINESS CIRCLE

Frazer Coogans Solicitors is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, of which senior partner Norman Geddes is the executive chairman.

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is an association founded in 2007 by some of the top companies in Ayrshire.

Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the rich diversity of industry, commerce and business services available within the county boundaries of Ayrshire.

Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse, Western House Hotel and South Ayrshire Council. and member company activities include broadcasting, building and construction, architectural practice, estate agency and land management, chartered accountancy, insurance broking, legal services, golf club management, marketing services and brand creation, web design and public relations consultancy.

For further information about The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and to apply for membership, e-mail eliteayrshire@gmail.com

Website: http://www.eliteayrshire.com

Issued by:

Murdoch MacDonald
Fame Publicity Services
E-mail FamePublicity@gmail.com
Web: http://www.famepublicity.co.uk
Telephone: 01292 281498
Mobile: 07833 667322