Ending stamp duty land tax could bring up to 750,000 homes to the market across England within three years, new research suggests. According to the Jackson-Stops Housing Mobility Report, stamp duty is the third most commonly cited barrier to moving.
The survey of 3,000 owner-occupiers conducted in June 2026 revealed 28% of respondents cited stamp duty as a reason not to move. The most commonly cited barriers were economic uncertainty (42%), mortgage rates (29%) and stamp duty costs (28%).
Jackson-Stops’ analysis suggests removing stamp duty costs could bring more than 300,000 owner-occupied homes to the market across England within less than a year.
The report estimates that figure could rise to more than 700,000 owner-occupied homes over three years.
Nick Leeming, chairman of Jackson-Stops, said: “Stamp duty is clearly part of the wider mobility challenge. While it is not the only factor shaping moving decisions, our data shows it remains a meaningful barrier for some would-be movers.
“Any serious discussion about improving housing mobility should consider both the transaction process itself and the upfront costs people face when deciding whether to move.”
The analysis is based on the proportion of owner-occupiers surveyed who said stamp duty costs had caused them to delay, postpone or abandon moving in the last five years.
Last month, the government published its roadmap for reforming the home buying and selling process, with proposals aimed at cutting transaction times by around four weeks.
Government data published as part of the reform roadmap showed the average home purchase takes 120 days once an offer is accepted. One in three transactions fall through, and failed transactions cost the economy up to £1.5 billion annually.
Leeming added: “The key now will be implementation, ensuring the reforms are phased carefully, clearly understood by consumers and workable for the agents, conveyancers, lenders and other professionals who will need to deliver them in practice.
“The market is active, and people continue to buy and sell homes every day. But our research indicates there is a sizeable group sitting behind that activity. People who could move, and in many cases would like to move, but who need greater confidence in the process in order to do so.”
In early June, a report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee said the government must reform stamp duty as part of a package to help first-time buyers afford homes. The cross-party committee report states that stamp duty is a valuable source of revenue for public finances and recommends the government launch a consultation by the end of 2026 to examine potential alternatives.
