Readers’ forum: Ethical way to reduce SDLT on purchase?

My clients are a husband and wife and together they own their main residence. In fact this house was bought originally by the husband before he met his future wife. Not long after they married he transferred a half share of the property into his wife’s name.

The couple would now like to buy a holiday home which I understand will cost about £500 000. From what I gather they are likely to have to pay an extra stamp duty land tax (SDLT) charge because this will be their second property. I think SDLT will apply to consideration over £250 000. Usually this would be at 5% (up to a cost of £925 000) but an extra 3% would apply here – in other words an extra £7 500. Perhaps this is not a large amount in the great scheme of things ...